Potential complement "bu dong"

不动 (bù dòng) is a potential complement that expresses you "can't do something." Don't confuse it with 不懂 as explained in The "-bu dong" (don't understand) Potential Complement.

Structure

The potential complement 不动 is used to express lack of physical ability to do something. This can be used not only with actions like walking, running or climbing, but even actions like eating and chewing.

It is used like this:

Subj. + Physical Action + 不动

Examples

• 我 走 不动 了，得 休息 一下！Literally, "try to walk but can't move"Wǒ zǒu bù dòng le, děi xiūxi yīxià!I can't keep going. I need to rest a bit.
• 等等 我，我 爬 不动 了！Literally, "try to climb but can't move"Děng děng wǒ, wǒ pá bù dòng le!Wait for me. I can't keep climbing.
• 这个 牛排 根本 咬 不动。Literally, "try to chew but can't move"

(it's way too tough to chew up)Zhège niúpái gēnběn yǎo bù dòng.I can't chew up this steak.

• 那 架 钢琴 很 重，他 肯定 搬 不动。Literally, "try to lift and move but can't move"Nà jià gāngqín hěn zhòng, tā kěndìng bān bù dòng.That piano is really heavy. He won't be able to move it.

See also

• Potential complement "bu xia"
• Positive and negative potential complements

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (1st ed) (p. 203)

HSK4