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HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

Verb + Complement Phrases like 记住, 走进来, 听不懂

A verb-complement phrase is a verb plus a word after it that tells the result, direction, possibility or degree of the action; at HSK 3 you need to recognize all four kinds.

Pattern

verb + complement (result / direction / 得·不 + result / 得 + description)

The complement after the verb says how the action turned out. Learn the verb and its complement as one unit.

你说得太快，我听不懂。

When to use Verb + Complement Phrases like 记住, 走进来, 听不懂

A verb-complement phrase (动补短语) is a verb followed by a complement, a word that tells what the action led to. At HSK 3 there are four common kinds. Result: 记住 “remember (it sticks),” 关上 “close,” 拿走 “take away,” 找到 “find.” Direction: 走进来 “walk in,” 拿出来 “take out,” 想起来 “recall.” Possibility, with 得 or 不 in the middle: 听得懂 “can understand,” 听不懂 “can’t understand.” Degree or description, with 得 + an adjective phrase: 说得很好 “speaks well,” 跑得很快 “runs fast.” In every kind the verb comes first and the complement right after it.

我记住了这个字。

I’ve memorized this character.

谁拿走了我的书？

Who took my book?

老师从外面走进来了。

The teacher walked in from outside.

请关上门。

Please close the door.

Common traps

  • Keep the complement right after the verb: 听懂了这个问题, not 听这个问题懂.
  • Use 没 for a result that didn’t happen (没听懂) and 不 inside the phrase for “can’t” (听不懂); 不听懂 is wrong.
  • Write the 得 of a complement as 得, not 的 or 地: 跑得很快.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

我的钥匙找 了

I’ve found my keys
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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