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

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* 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>bù dòng</em> le, děi xiūxi yīxià!</span><span class="trans">I can't keep going. I need to rest a bit.</span>
 
* 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>bù 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>bù dòng</em> le!</span><span class="trans">Wait for me. I can't keep climbing.</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>bù 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"  
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* 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>bù dòng</em>.</span><span class="trans">I can't chew up this steak.</span>
(it's way too tough to chew up)</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège niúpái gēnběn yǎo <em>bù 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>bù dòng</em>.</span><span class="trans">That piano is really heavy. He won't be able to move it.</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>bù dòng</em>.</span><span class="trans">That piano is really heavy. He won't be able to move it.</span>
 
  
 
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Revision as of 01:11, 23 February 2017

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 upZhège 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

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4