Chinese – First Language (9680) | 补充

欢迎来到“补充”词组学习指南！ (Welcome to the Complementary Phrase Study Guide!)

你好！Welcome to the exciting world of Chinese phrase structures. This chapter focuses on 补充词组 (Bǔchōng Cízǔ), or the Complementary Phrase.

You might think simple sentences are enough, but if you want to express *how* well you ran, *where* you put the book, or *how long* you slept, you need complements!

The Complementary Phrase is essential for adding precision, detail, and sophistication to your spoken and written Chinese. Mastering it will significantly boost your competency for the 9680 exams!

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补充词组 (Bǔchōng Cízǔ): Understanding the Complementary Phrase

The Complementary Phrase is a type of phrase structure where one element (the Complement) follows a central word (usually a Verb or Adjective) to provide extra information about the action or state.

核心结构 (The Core Structure)

In simple terms, the structure answers the questions: How was the action completed?, What was the result?, How long did it take?, or In what direction did the movement go?

• 中心语 (Central Element): Usually a Verb (V) or Adjective (Adj).
• 补充语 (Complement): The element that modifies the central word.

Formula: [V / Adj] + [Complement]

Example: 跑 (pǎo - run) + 累 (lèi - tired) → 跑累 (rān until tired)

Did you know? This structure is unique to Chinese grammar and is one of the most powerful ways to pack detail into a short phrase!

四大主要补语类型 (The Four Major Complement Types)

We will break down the complementary phrase into the four most common and examinable categories:

1. 结果补语 (Jiéguǒ Bǔyǔ) – Result Complement

This is the most straightforward type. The complement indicates the result or outcome of the action.

Function: Shows whether the action was completed successfully, or what state the object is in after the action.

Key Structure: V + Complement (often an adjective or verb indicating result)

Common Result Complements:

• 完 (wán): Finished, completed. (e.g., 吃完 - finished eating)
• 好 (hǎo): Done well, ready. (e.g., 做好 - finished making/done well)
• 懂 (dǒng): Understood. (e.g., 听懂 - understood by listening)
• 错 (cuò): Wrong. (e.g., 写错 - wrote incorrectly)
• 干净 (gānjìng): Clean. (e.g., 洗干净 - washed clean)

Examples:

• 他找到了钥匙。 (Tā zhǎodào le yàoshi.) – He found the key. (Result: 找到, successfully found)
• 我还没看完这本书。 (Wǒ hái méi kànwán zhè běn shū.) – I haven’t finished reading this book yet. (Result: 看完, finished reading)

2. 趋向补语 (Qūxiàng Bǔyǔ) – Direction Complement

This complement shows the direction of the movement or the action, often relative to the speaker or a location.

Function: Acts like a "GPS" for the verb, telling us if the action is moving closer, farther, up, or down.

A. Simple Direction Complements:

• 来 (lái): Towards the speaker/reference point. (e.g., 进来 - come in)
• 去 (qù): Away from the speaker/reference point. (e.g., 跑去 - run away)

B. Complex Direction Complements (V + Up/Down/Out + 来/去):

• 上 (shàng) / 下 (xià) / 进 (jìn) / 出 (chū) / 回 (huí) / 过 (guò) / 起 (qǐ) combined with 来/去.

Step-by-Step Example:

If you are inside the classroom:

1. The student walks towards you: 他走进来了。 (Tā zǒu jìnlái le.) – He walked in (towards me).
2. The student walks away from you: 他走走出去了。 (Tā zǒu chūqù le.) – He walked out (away from me).

Important Rule (Object Placement): If the action has an object that represents a place, the object MUST be placed between the verb/simple direction and 来/去.

Correct: 搬 书包 进来 (Bān shūbāo jìnlái – Carry the backpack in.)
Correct: 走 进 教室 去 (Zǒu jìn jiàoshì qù – Walk into the classroom.)

3. 状态/程度补语 (Zhuàngtài/Chéngdù Bǔyǔ) – State/Degree Complement

This is arguably the most critical and flexible complement structure. It uses the structural particle 得 (de) to describe the manner or extent of an action.

Function: Describes *how* an action is performed, or the state achieved due to the action (the degree). This complements the verb by adding descriptive detail.

Key Structure: V / Adj + 得 + Description of State/Manner

Important Note: This 得 (de) is different from ‘的’ (possessive) and ‘地’ (adverbial marker). It acts as a structural link, introducing the complement.

Examples:

• 他跑步跑得很快。 (Tā pǎobù pǎo de hěn kuài.) – He runs quickly. (跑得很快 describes the speed of running.)
• 她笑得肚子疼。 (Tā xiào de dùzi téng.) – She laughed so much her stomach hurt. (笑得肚子疼 describes the extreme degree of laughter.)

Handling Objects (The Repetition Rule): If the verb already has an object, you must repeat the verb before adding the complement structure with 得.

Incorrect: 他说英语得很好。
Correct: 他说英语说得很好。(Tā shuō Yīngyǔ shuō de hěn hǎo. – He speaks English very well.)

4. 数量补语 (Shùliàng Bǔyǔ) – Quantity (Duration/Frequency) Complement

This complement indicates the duration (时量 – shíliàng) of the action or the frequency (动量 – dòngliàng) of the action.

A. Duration Complement (How long?):

Structure: V + Quantity of Time

• 我等了三十分钟。 (Wǒ děng le sānshí fēnzhōng.) – I waited for thirty minutes.
• 他学了两年中文。 (Tā xué le liǎng nián Zhōngwén.) – He studied Chinese for two years.

B. Frequency Complement (How many times?):

Structure: V + Quantity/Measure Word (e.g., 次 cì, 遍 biàn)

• 我去了北京两次。 (Wǒ qù le Běijīng liǎng cì.) – I went to Beijing twice.
• 请你再说一遍。 (Qǐng nǐ zài shuō yí biàn.) – Please say it one more time.

Key Takeaway on Complements: The complement is always placed after the main verb (or adjective) and before the object (in most cases, except duration/frequency when the verb is repeated).

可能补语 (Kěnéng Bǔyǔ) – The Possibility Complement

The Possibility Complement is a variation often built upon the Result or Direction complements, indicating whether the action can or cannot achieve a certain result or direction.

Function: Expresses ability or inability to achieve the result of the action.

Key Particles: 得 (de) for positive possibility, 不 (bù) for negative possibility.

结构 (Structure):

• Positive: V + 得 + Result/Direction Complement
• Negative: V + 不 + Result/Direction Complement

Analogy: Think of 得 and 不 as a bridge connecting the action (V) to the potential outcome (Complement).

Examples:

• V + 懂 (Understand):
  • Positive: 我听得懂。 (Wǒ tīng dedǒng.) – I can understand (by listening).
  • Negative: 我听不懂。 (Wǒ tīng bùdǒng.) – I cannot understand.
• V + 完 (Finish):
  • Positive: 这么大的蛋糕，我吃得完。 (Zhème dà de dàngāo, wǒ chī dewán.) – This big cake, I can finish eating.
  • Negative: 这么多的作业，我做不完。 (Zhème duō de zuòyè, wǒ zuò bùwán.) – This much homework, I cannot finish doing.

Accessibility Tip: The Possibility Complement is different from simply using 能 (néng) or 可以 (kěyǐ). 能/可以 refers to a general ability or permission. The Possibility Complement refers specifically to whether the action, given current circumstances, can achieve its *intended result*.

Compare:
我不能去。 (Wǒ bù néng qù.) – I cannot go (General inability/permission issue).
我走不过去。 (Wǒ zǒu bu guòqù.) – I cannot walk across (Specific physical obstacle preventing the action from achieving the direction).

❌ 常见错误与避免方法 (Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them)

Mistake 1: Confusing Complement and Object Position

In English, modifiers often follow the object. In Chinese, the complement almost always sticks to the verb first.

Incorrect: 我洗了衣服干净。 (Wǒ xǐ le yīfu gānjìng.)
Correct: 我洗干净了衣服。 (Wǒ xǐ gānjìng le yīfu.) – I washed the clothes clean. (Result complement 干净 goes right after the verb 洗.)

Mistake 2: Forgetting the Double Verb Rule with State/Degree Complements

If you have an object, you must repeat the verb when using the 得 structure.

Incorrect: 她弹钢琴得很好听。
Correct: 她弹钢琴弹得很好听。(Tā tán gāngqín tán de hěn hǎotīng. – She plays the piano very nicely.)

Mistake 3: Misplacing the Particle 了 (le)

If the complement indicates the completion of the action, the aspect marker 了 (le) must usually be placed after the entire V-C structure, not between them.

Incorrect: 我看了懂了。(Wǒ kàn le dǒng le.)
Correct: 我看懂了。(Wǒ kàndǒng le.) – I understood (by reading).

Don’t worry if this seems like a lot of structures! Practice identifying the function of the complement (result, direction, or degree) first, and the placement will become natural. You’ve got this!