jiéguǒ bǔyǔ: 结果补语 - Resultative Complement

• Keywords: resultative complement Chinese, Chinese result complement, jiéguǒ bǔyǔ, Chinese grammar verb result, how to use 完 wan, how to use 好 hao, what is a complement in Chinese, verb complement Chinese, 结果补语 grammar, Chinese action result
• Summary: Learn about the Chinese resultative complement (结果补语, jiéguǒ bǔyǔ), a fundamental grammar point that adds a second verb or adjective after a main verb to show the result of an action. Mastering this structure, such as using `完 (wán)` for 'finished' or `好 (hǎo)` for 'done well', is key to moving beyond basic sentences and describing outcomes clearly. This guide breaks down what a verb complement is in Chinese grammar, how to use it, and provides common examples to make your Chinese sound more natural and precise.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiéguǒ bǔyǔ
• Part of Speech: Grammar Term / Noun
• HSK Level: Concept introduced around HSK 2-3
• Concise Definition: A grammatical structure where a verb or adjective is placed directly after another verb to indicate the result of the action.
• In a Nutshell: The resultative complement is one of the most powerful tools in Chinese grammar. Instead of saying “I listened, and I understood,” you combine the action (listen) and the result (understand) into a single, efficient verb phrase: `听懂 (tīng dǒng)`. Think of it as `Action Verb + Result Word`. This structure is not an optional add-on; it's the standard way to express that an action was successfully completed and produced a specific outcome.

• 结 (jié): To tie, knot, or conclude. It implies bringing something to a conclusion.
• 果 (guǒ): Fruit, result, or outcome. This is the “fruit” of an action.
• 补 (bǔ): To supplement, patch, or add to. It's “patching” extra information onto the main verb.
• 语 (yǔ): Word or language. It refers to this element as a part of speech.

Together, 结果 (jiéguǒ) means “result” or “outcome.” 补语 (bǔyǔ) is the linguistic term for “complement.” Therefore, 结果补语 (jiéguǒ bǔyǔ) literally translates to “result complement,” a perfect description of its grammatical function.

While a grammar point isn't a cultural value like `面子 (miànzi)`, the prevalence and importance of the resultative complement says a lot about the Chinese language's worldview. The structure reflects a highly pragmatic and result-oriented perspective. In English, we can say “I looked for my keys,” which leaves the outcome ambiguous. Did you find them? We don't know. In Chinese, there's a strong preference for clarity on this point. You would typically specify the result:

• `我找了钥匙 (wǒ zhǎo le yàoshi)` - I looked for the keys (but the outcome is still a bit vague).
• `我找到了钥匙 (wǒ zhǎodào le yàoshi)` - I found the keys (Action 'look' + Result 'attain' = success).
• `我没找到钥匙 (wǒ méi zhǎodào yàoshi)` - I didn't find the keys (Action 'look' was attempted, but Result 'attain' was not achieved).

This linguistic habit encourages speakers to be precise about outcomes. It separates the *attempt* of an action from its *result*, a distinction that is fundamental to communication in daily life. This focus on the end result over the attempt can be seen as a microcosm of a broader cultural emphasis on tangible outcomes and effectiveness.

The resultative complement is everywhere in spoken and written Chinese. It's not a formal or academic structure; it's the default way to talk about completed actions. Basic Structure: `Subject + Verb + Result Complement + Object (+ 了)` Negation: This is one of the most important rules. To negate a resultative complement, you must use `没 (méi)` or `没有 (méiyǒu)`, never `不 (bù)`. `Subject + 没(有) + Verb + Result Complement + Object`

• Correct: `我没看完那本书。` (Wǒ méi kànwán nà běn shū.) - I didn't finish reading that book.
• Incorrect: `我不看完那本书。`

Questions: You can form a yes/no question by adding `了吗 (le ma)` or using the `…了没有 (…le méiyǒu)` structure.

• `你做好饭了吗？` (Nǐ zuòhǎo fàn le ma?) - Have you finished cooking?
• `你的作业写完了没有？` (Nǐ de zuòyè xiěwán le méiyǒu?) - Have you finished your homework or not?

• Example 1:
  • 我已经吃完饭了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng chīwán fàn le.
  • English: I have already finished eating.
  • Analysis: `吃 (chī)` is the action “to eat.” `完 (wán)` is the result “finished.” Together, `吃完 (chīwán)` means to finish eating. This is one of the first and most common resultative complements you will learn.
• Example 2:
  • 晚饭做好了，快来吃吧！
  • Pinyin: Wǎnfàn zuòhǎo le, kuài lái chī ba!
  • English: Dinner is ready (well-made), come and eat!
  • Analysis: `做 (zuò)` means “to make.” The result `好 (hǎo)` means “good” or “complete.” `做好 (zuòhǎo)` implies not just that the action is finished, but that it's done and ready for the next step.
• Example 3:
  • 我昨天在街上看见了你的老师。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuótiān zài jiē shàng kànjiàn le nǐ de lǎoshī.
  • English: I saw your teacher on the street yesterday.
  • Analysis: This highlights the difference between attempt and result. `看 (kàn)` is “to look,” but `见 (jiàn)` as a result means you successfully perceived it. So `看见 (kànjiàn)` means “to see.” You can look (`看`) without seeing (`看见`).
• Example 4:
  • 对不起，我没听清楚你刚才说什么。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ méi tīngqīngchu nǐ gāngcái shuō shénme.
  • English: Sorry, I didn't hear clearly what you just said.
  • Analysis: `听 (tīng)` is “to listen.” `清楚 (qīngchu)` is “clear.” The negative form `没听清楚` shows that the action of listening was performed, but the result of clarity was not achieved.
• Example 5:
  • 你终于找到你的钱包了！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhōngyú zhǎodào nǐ de qiánbāo le!
  • English: You finally found your wallet!
  • Analysis: `找 (zhǎo)` is “to look for.” `到 (dào)` means “to arrive” or “to attain.” `找到 (zhǎodào)` is the successful result of searching, meaning “to find.”
• Example 6:
  • 这道题我算错了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè dào tí wǒ suàncuò le.
  • English: I calculated this problem incorrectly.
  • Analysis: `算 (suàn)` means “to calculate.” `错 (cuò)` is the result “wrong” or “mistaken.” This is a very direct way to state an error was made.
• Example 7:
  • 今天的语法你听懂了吗？
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de yǔfǎ nǐ tīngdǒng le ma?
  • English: Did you understand today's grammar? (Literally: Did you listen and understand?)
  • Analysis: `听 (tīng)` is “to listen,” and `懂 (dǒng)` is “to understand.” `听懂 (tīngdǒng)` is the specific result of understanding something you heard, which is different from `看懂 (kàndǒng)` (to understand something you read).
• Example 8:
  • 他把我的杯子打碎了。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ wǒ de bēizi dǎsuì le.
  • English: He broke my cup.
  • Analysis: `打 (dǎ)` has many meanings, here “to strike.” `碎 (suì)` means “shattered.” `打碎 (dǎsuì)` means to smash or break into pieces. This example also uses the 把字句, which is very common with resultative complements.
• Example 9:
  • 请把房间打扫干净。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ fángjiān dǎsǎo gānjìng.
  • English: Please clean the room. (Literally: Please sweep the room clean.)
  • Analysis: `打扫 (dǎsǎo)` is the action “to clean/sweep.” `干净 (gānjìng)` is the result “clean.” This command isn't just to perform the action of cleaning, but to achieve the state of cleanliness.
• Example 10:
  • 我快饿死了！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kuài èsǐ le!
  • English: I'm starving to death!
  • Analysis: This is a common exaggeration. `饿 (è)` means “hungry,” and `死 (sǐ)` means “to die.” `饿死 (èsǐ)` is a hyperbolic way to say you are extremely hungry. It functions as a resultative complement showing the extreme result of hunger.

• Mistake 1: Using `不` for negation. As stated above, this is the most common error. Resultative complements describe a completed (or not completed) action in the past, so they must be negated with `没 (méi)`.
  • Correct: 我没找到我的手机。 (Wǒ méi zhǎodào wǒ de shǒujī.) - I didn't find my phone.
  • Incorrect: 我不找到我的手机。
  • Note: `我不找` (Wǒ bù zhǎo) is grammatically correct, but it means “I am not going to look,” expressing future intention, not a past result.
• Mistake 2: Confusing the action with the result. A beginner might say `我看了 (wǒ kàn le)` when they mean “I finished watching.”
  • `我看了 (wǒ kàn le)` just means “I watched/looked.” It doesn't say if you finished or if you actually saw anything specific.
  • `我看完了 (wǒ kànwán le)` means “I finished watching.”
  • `我看见了 (wǒ kànjiàn le)` means “I saw it.”
  • Always ask yourself: Did I just do the action, or did I achieve a specific result?
• Mistake 3: Using `了 (le)` with `没 (méi)`. When you negate with `没 (méi)`, you must drop the `了 (le)`. The particle `了` indicates completion, while `没` indicates non-completion, so they are contradictory.
  • Correct: 他没听懂。 (Tā méi tīngdǒng.) - He didn't understand.
  • Incorrect: 他没听懂了。

• 补语 (bǔyǔ) - The general grammatical category of “complements.” The resultative complement is one of several types.
• 可能补语 (kěnéng bǔyǔ) - The potential complement. It's built from the resultative complement to express ability (e.g., `听得懂` - able to understand, `听不懂` - unable to understand).
• 趋向补语 (qūxiàng bǔyǔ) - The directional complement. Another major type of complement that shows the direction of an action (e.g., `走上来` - to walk up here).
• 了 (le) - The aspect particle for completion. It is almost always used with positive resultative complements to show that the action and its result have occurred.
• 把字句 (bǎ zìjù) - The “ba” sentence structure. It is frequently used with resultative complements to emphasize the disposal of or effect on an object.
• 在 (zài) - Can act as a resultative complement indicating the location of something as a result of an action (e.g., `放在桌子上` - to place it on the table).
• 到 (dào) - A very common resultative complement meaning “to attain” a goal or “to arrive” at a place/time (e.g., `做到` - to achieve it, `等到` - to wait until).