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！Wǒ zǒu bù dòng le, děi xiūxi yīxià!I walked but haven't gotten there yet. I need to rest a bit.
• 等 等 我，我 爬 不动 了！Děng děng wǒ, wǒ pá bù dòng le!Wait for me. I haven't climbed there yet.
• 这个 牛排 根本 咬不动。Zhège niúpái gēnběn yǎo bù dòng.I simply can't bite through this steak.
• 那 架 钢琴 很 重，他 肯定 搬不动。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