Difference between revisions of "Complement "-zhao""
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| − | *现在 <em>买 不 着</em> 这样 的 衣服 了。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài | + | *现在 <em>买 不 着</em> 这样 的 衣服 了。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài <em>mǎi bu zháo</em> zhèyàng de yīfú le.</span><span class="trans">You can't buy such clothes now.</span> |
| − | *晚上 我 <em>睡 不 着</em> 的 时候 就 看书。<span class="pinyin">Wǎnshàng wǒ <em>shuì | + | *晚上 我 <em>睡 不 着</em> 的 时候 就 看书。<span class="pinyin">Wǎnshàng wǒ <em>shuì bu zháo</em> de shíhòu jiù kànshū.</span><span class="trans">At night when can't get to sleep, I read a book.</span> |
| − | *我 的 手机 <em>找 不 着</em> 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de shǒujī <em>zhǎo | + | *我 的 手机 <em>找 不 着</em> 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de shǒujī <em>zhǎo bu zháo</em> le.</span><span class="trans">I can't find my cell phone.</span> |
| − | *这么 晚 了，<em>买 得 着</em> 吗？<span class="pinyin">Zhème wǎn le, <em>mǎi de zháo</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">It's so late already, can | + | *这么 晚 了，<em>买 得 着</em> 吗？<span class="pinyin">Zhème wǎn le, <em>mǎi de zháo</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">It's so late already, can we buy it?</span> |
| − | *我 在 国外 <em>吃 不 着</em> 地道 的 中国 菜 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài guówài <em>chī | + | *我 在 国外 <em>吃 不 着</em> 地道 的 中国 菜 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài guówài <em>chī bu zháo</em> dìdào de Zhōngguó cài.</span><span class="trans">Outside of China, I can't get authentic Chinese food.</span> |
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Revision as of 06:46, 26 November 2020
When used as a resultative complement, 着 (zháo) expresses that the action has reached its purpose or has had an outcome. It can also be used as a potential complement, meaning "able to."
Contents
Resultative Complement
Structure
All you have to do is put 着 after the verb. Remember that it should be something that you can reach or achieve. It could be a purpose, or it can be producing an outcome or an influence.
Verb + 着
Remember: that 着 is pronounced "zháo and not "zhe"!
Examples
- 我 终于 见 着 你 了。I have finally met you.
- 最近 太 忙 了，他 累 着 了。I've been so busy lately, he's tired.
- 宝宝 刚 睡 着。The baby just fell asleep.
- 你 的 手机 找 着 了 吗？Did you find your cell phone?
- 超市 关门 了 ，你 要 的 东西 我 没 买 着 。The supermarket is closed. I didn't buy things that you need.
You might be wondering: "why the heck would I use this instead of 到?" Good question! But native speakers do (especially in the north), so it's something you need to know. Also, 睡着 (shuì zháo), meaning "fall asleep," is an exception in that it cannot be replaced with *睡到.
Potential Complement
Structure
Verb + 得 / 不 + 着
When used with 得 or 不, 着 functions as a potential complement, and denotes that one's one's ability is up (or not) to the task in question.
Examples
- 现在 买 不 着 这样 的 衣服 了。You can't buy such clothes now.
- 晚上 我 睡 不 着 的 时候 就 看书。At night when can't get to sleep, I read a book.
- 我 的 手机 找 不 着 了。I can't find my cell phone.
- 这么 晚 了，买 得 着 吗？It's so late already, can we buy it?
- 我 在 国外 吃 不 着 地道 的 中国 菜 。Outside of China, I can't get authentic Chinese food.
