Advanced result complements "zhu", "kai", and "chulai"

Verb with 住

Examples

Here 住 is used to express a "coming to a halt."

• 站住！你 不 能 走 ！Stop! You can't go!
• 不 好意思，你 挡住 了 我 的 路 。Excuse me. You're standing in my way.
• 前面 两 辆 大卡车 堵住 了 整 条 路 。The two trucks ahead are blocking the entire road.
• 抓住 那个 小偷 ！Zhuā zhù nàge xiǎotōu! .

Here 住 is used to express undertaking an action "firmly" or "tightly".

• 你 必须 抓住 机会 。You must seize the opportunity tightly.
• 大家 都 记 住 了 吗 ？Dàjiā dōu jìzhù le ma? .
• 看住 你 的 小狗，别 让 它 乱 跑。Keep an eye on your dog. Don't let him just run around.

Potential Complement

Structure

Verb + 得 / 不 + 住

When used with 得 (or 不) 住 functions as a potential complement , and denotes that one's one's ability is up (or not) to the task in question:

Examples

• 我 忍 不 住 哭了。I can't stop myself from crying.
• 这 个 人 你 留 不 住，他 不 会 永远 呆 在 这里。You can't keep this person here, he can't stay forever.
• 连续 工作 这么 长 时间，你 撑 得 住 吗？Working for such a long time straight, can you bear it?
• 如果 你 抓 得 住 她 的心，只能 说明 你 很 幸运。If you can catch her heart, then you are very lucky.

See also

• Resultative Complement "kai"
• Resultative Complement "huai"
• Potential complement

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 135) →buy

HSK5