Potential complement "bu xia"

Another great potential complement is 不下 (bùxià).

Structure

To talk about whether or not something can happen or is possible, potential complements are used. One of the most common is 不下. This is used to talk about whether or not something will fit or go somewhere.

Subject + Verb + 不下 + Object

Examples

The sentence could also be arranged with the object first (a topic).

• 书柜太小， 放 不 下 这么 多 书。This bookcase is too small to keep this many books.
• 饭太多，我们 吃 不 下。There's so much food. We can't eat all of it.
• 这 间 房间 太 小，坐 不 下 三十 个 人。This room is too small. 30 people can't fit in here.
• 我一个人拿不 下 这么 多 行李。I can't take this luggage all by myself.

See also

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

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 205) →buy
• Contemporary Chinese 4 (当代中文4) (pp. 94) →buy

HSK4