Result Complements — 结果补语

Overview

A result complement (结果补语, jiéguǒ bǔyǔ) is a word placed directly after a verb to show the result or outcome of the action. In English the result is often hidden inside the verb ("find" = look + success) or added loosely ("eat up"). Chinese is more systematic: the verb names the action, and a second word — the result complement — states how it turned out. Crucially, the verb alone does not imply a result: 我看书了 only means "I read / was reading," while 我看完书了 means "I finished the book." Each complement keeps a consistent core meaning across different verbs, so learning a dozen of them unlocks hundreds of natural combinations.

A result complement (结果补语) is a word placed right after a verb to show how the action turned out — 完 (finished), 到 (succeeded), 懂 (understood), 错 (wrongly), and more. The verb alone never implies the result.

我看书了 (action only) vs. 我看完书了 (result: finished) — the complete only appears when you add 完.

Key rule: A result complement attaches directly to the verb (V + RC) with nothing in between. Negate the pair with 没 (not 不), and place 了 after the whole V+RC unit.

The Common Result Complements at a Glance

The table below is the map for this whole guide. Each row is one result complement, its core meaning, and a typical verb pairing — click any complement to jump to its detailed section further down, where you will also find a link to its full dedicated page.

Each row is one result complement with its core meaning and a typical pairing. Click one to jump to its section.

Sentence Structure

The core pattern is simple: the result complement sits immediately after the verb, and any object comes after the pair. Because the verb and complement act as a single unit, particles and objects arrange themselves around that unit, never inside it.

Verb + Result Complement act as one unit; the object and 了 come after the pair, never inside it.

Subject + Verb + ResultComplement + (Object) + (了)
Subject + 没 + Verb + ResultComplement + (Object)   ← negation (result not achieved)

我看懂中文了 — “I understood Chinese.” The sentence is built as Verb (看) + Result Complement (懂) + Object (中文).

Where 了 goes. Because the verb and complement are one unit, 了 attaches after the whole pair.

The Twelve Common Result Complements

Each complement below has its own core meaning, its own set of compatible verbs, and its own nuances. Tap any section to expand a quick explanation with examples — and follow its link for the full dedicated guide with more verb pairings, deeper notes, and its own practice drills.

Tap any complement to expand it; each links out to a full dedicated page.

The Five Core Rules

Whichever complement you use, the same handful of rules govern how it behaves in a sentence. These are the errors learners make most often — and how to avoid them.

Five rules govern every result complement, whichever one you pick.

Rule 1 — The complement attaches directly to the verb. Nothing (not even 了) may come between them; V + RC is one unit.

Rule 2 — Negate with 没, not 不, for completed actions. To say an action didn’t achieve its result, put 没 before the V+RC pair.

(不 does appear with complements — but only in the potential form 吃不完 “can’t finish,” a different structure covered below.)

Rule 3 — The verb alone does not imply a result. Without a complement, the sentence describes only the action, and the listener can’t tell whether it succeeded.

Rule 4 — 了 goes after the whole V+RC unit, whether or not an object follows: 我吃完了 (Wǒ chī wán le), 我吃完水果了 (Wǒ chī wán shuǐguǒ le, “I finished the fruit”).

Rule 5 — Many V+RC pairs are fixed vocabulary. Learn them as single chunks: 看见 (kànjiàn, see), 听见 (tīngjiàn, hear), 找到 (zhǎodào, find), 记住 (jìzhù, memorize), 打开 (dǎkāi, open), 听懂 (tīngdǒng, understand).

Verb Alone vs. Verb + Result Complement

Result complements matter because they change the meaning, not just add words. The same verb with and without its complement tells the listener two different things — action versus outcome. Native speakers always add the complement when they mean the result.

The same verb means something different with and without its complement — action vs. outcome.

The Potential Form (V得/不 + RC)

Closely related to result complements is the potential form, which inserts 得 ("can") or 不 ("cannot") between the verb and the complement to say whether the result is achievable. It is a distinct HSK 3 grammar point, but it grows directly out of the pairs on this page, so it is worth recognizing early.

Insert 得 / 不 between verb and complement to say the result can or cannot happen: 听得懂 (can understand) / 听不懂 (can't understand).

Don’t confuse it with plain negation. 没 states a fact (it didn’t happen); 不…RC states an ability (it can’t happen): 我没写完 (Wǒ méi xiě wán, “I didn’t finish”) vs. 我写不完 (Wǒ xiě bu wán, “I can’t finish”).

Result vs. Other Complement Types

Result complements are one of several complement families. The most useful contrasts: directional complements show movement (and often combine with result complements), degree complements show extent, and potential complements show possibility.

Result = outcome; [directional](/grammar/directional-complements/) = movement; degree = extent; potential = possibility.

One verb can even take both a result and a directional sense: 我看懂了 (Wǒ kàn dǒng le, “I understood”) — result; 我把书拿上来了 (Wǒ bǎ shū ná shàng lái le, “I brought the book up”) — directional. See directional complements for the movement family, often used inside the 把 sentence.

Quick Reference Chart

Everything on this page, condensed. Use it as a cheat sheet while you practice.

A condensed cheat sheet of the complements and core patterns.

Drills

Choose the correct result complement for each blank. Use the English hint under each sentence — it tells you which outcome is meant (finished, succeeded, understood, perceived, and so on). Click 🔀 New Questions for a fresh set of 10 from the full 120-sentence pool covering all twelve complements.

Notes

• Result complements are tightly bonded to the verb — no pause or particle sits between them.
• Many V+RC pairs are learned as fixed vocabulary: 看见, 听见, 找到, 记住, 打开.
• 好 means “completed to a satisfactory, ready state,” not merely “done nicely” — 准备好了 = “fully ready.”
• The potential form (V得RC / V不RC, e.g. 做得完 “can finish” vs 做不完 “can’t finish”) is a distinct HSK 3 topic that builds on these pairs.

Sources

HSK Standard Course 2 — L9 (结果补语, result complements introduced) HSK Standard Course 3 — L1 (结果补语 “好”), L6 (V得/不 + RC, potential form)