Difference between revisions of "Potential complement "bu dong""

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#REDIRECT[[Advanced potential complements]]
 
 
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:
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subj. + Physical Action + 不动
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Examples ==
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* 我  走 <em>不动</em> 了,得 休息 一下!<span class="expl">Literally, "try to walk but can't move"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǒu <em>bu dòng</em> le, děi xiūxi yīxià! </span><span class="trans">I can't keep going. I need to rest a bit.</span>
 
* 等等 我,我  爬 <em>不动</em> 了!<span class="expl">Literally, "try to climb but can't move"</span><span class="pinyin">Děng děng wǒ, wǒ pá <em>bu dòng</em> le!</span><span class="trans">Wait for me. I can't keep climbing.</span>
 
* 这个 牛排 根本 咬 <em>不动</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "try to chew but can't move"; it's way too tough to chew up</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège niúpái gēnběn yǎo <em>bu dòng</em>.</span><span class="trans">I can't chew up this steak.</span>
 
* 那 架 钢琴 很 重,他 肯定 搬 <em>不动</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "try to lift and move but can't move"</span><span class="pinyin">Nà jià gāngqín hěn zhòng, tā kěndìng bān <em>bu dòng</em>.</span><span class="trans">That piano is really heavy. He won't be able to move it.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
==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)
 
 
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:Potential complement]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|不动|B1|Verb + 不动|我 太 累 了,走 <em>不 动</em> 了。|grammar point|ASG2C6Z7}}
 
{{Rel char|不}}
 
{{Rel char|动}}
 
{{Structure|Complements}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing impossibility}}
 
{{Subprop|Potential complement}}
 

Latest revision as of 08:23, 29 August 2017