Result Complement - Part 1

Result Complements 结果补语: Learn how to use result complements in Chinese to express the outcome or result of an action, with focus on 成, 动, 掉, 走, 醒, 起

Introduction to Result Complements

Result Complement is known as 结果补语 (jiéguǒ bǔyǔ) in Chinese. As the name suggests, a result complement is used to show the result or outcome of a verb. It provides additional meaning to the verb by indicating what happened as a consequence of the action.

A result complement structure is composed of a verb followed by a complement word. The complement describes the result of the action expressed by the verb.

In this lesson, we will introduce six important result complements: 成 (chéng), 动 (dòng), 掉 (diào), 走 (zǒu), 醒 (xǐng), 起 (qǐ).

Action

Verb

谈 (tán)

to discuss

Result

Verb + Complement

谈成 (tán chéng)

discuss successfully

Basic Structure of Result Complements

Verb

谈

tán

“to discuss”

Result Complement

成

chéng

“successfully”

Result Meaning

谈成

tán chéng

“discuss successfully”

Formula: Verb + Result Complement = Action with Specific Result

成

chéng

Main Meanings:

1. Successful achievement

2. Change into

谈成

discuss successfully

动

dòng

Main Meaning:

To move (ability)

搬动

able to move

掉

diào

Main Meanings:

1. Off

2. Away

3. Finish

洗掉

wash off

走

zǒu

Main Meaning:

Away, off

搬走

move away

醒

xǐng

Main Meaning:

To wake up

叫醒

wake someone up

起

qǐ

Main Meaning:

Afford to

买起

afford to buy

Result Complement: 成 (chéng)

The result complement 成 (chéng) has two main meanings:

Successful achievement of one’s goal/purpose – indicates that an action was completed successfully
To change into – indicates transformation from one state/form to another

Examples: 成 (chéng) – Successful Achievement

Chinese Sentence	Pinyin	English Translation	Analysis	Audio
因为大家的意见不一致，所以这件事没谈成。	yīnwèi dàjiā de yìjiàn bù yízhì, suǒyǐ zhèjiàn shì méi tán chéng.	Because everyone’s opinions were不一致, this matter wasn’t successfully discussed (negotiated).	谈成 successfully discuss
银行下班了，这些钱没存成。	yínháng xiàbān le, zhèxiē qián méi cún chéng.	The bank closed, this money wasn’t successfully deposited.	存成 successfully deposit

Examples: 成 (chéng) – Change Into

Chinese Sentence	Pinyin	English Translation	Analysis	Audio
请帮我把这些美元换成人民币。	qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ zhèxiē měiyuán huàn chéng rénmínbì.	Please help me change these US dollars into RMB.	换成 change into
请把这段儿英文翻译成汉语。	qǐng bǎ zhè duàn’r yīngwén fānyì chéng hànyǔ.	Please translate this English passage into Chinese.	翻译成 translate into

成 (chéng) Usage Summary

Meaning 1: Successful Achievement

Pattern: Verb + 成

Meaning: “Successfully [verb]”

做成功

successfully do

学成功

successfully learn

Key point: Emphasizes completion with successful outcome

Meaning 2: Change Into

Pattern: Verb + 成 + New Form

Meaning: “[Verb] into [something]”

变成

change into

分成

divide into

Key point: Indicates transformation to a different form

Result Complement: 动 (dòng)

The result complement 动 (dòng) means “to move” and is used to indicate whether something can be moved or whether someone has the ability/strength to perform a movement.

In the negative form (不动 – bú dòng), it indicates inability to move something or lack of strength/ability to perform an action.