得 plus a Fixed-Phrase State Complement in Chinese
动词/形容词＋得＋固定短语
A vivid fixed phrase can follow 得 to portray the state or behavior caused by a preceding emotion or condition. Common complements include paired or reduplicated expressions such as 又哭又笑, 走来走去, and 跑前跑后. The phrase is used as an established whole rather than assembled with arbitrary substitutions.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Predicate + 得 + Fixed Phrase
Read the structure
A vivid fixed phrase can follow 得 to portray the state or behavior caused by a preceding emotion or condition. Common complements include paired or reduplicated expressions such as 又哭又笑, 走来走去, and 跑前跑后. The phrase is used as an established whole rather than assembled with arbitrary substitutions. Keep the model Predicate + 得 + Fixed Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
第一次看到雪，她激动得又哭又笑。
Seeing snow for the first time, she was so excited that she cried and laughed.
Choose the right context
Portray mixed reactions: 她激动得又哭又笑。 Describe restless repeated motion: 妈妈急得走来走去。 Show busy movement in different directions: 父母高兴得跑前跑后。
女儿还没回来，妈妈急得走来走去。
Her daughter had not returned, so the mother paced anxiously.
Respect the boundary
Do not omit 得 between the cause predicate and the fixed phrase. Do not scramble the internal order of an established expression such as 走来走去. Do not invent a fixed phrase by mechanically replacing one element with an incompatible verb.
妈妈急走来走去。
(Mother anxious paced back and forth.)
Repair the pattern
得 is omitted before the fixed complement: 得 must link the state 急 to the fixed phrase 走来走去 that portrays its resulting behavior. The internal order of the fixed directional phrase is broken: The established pattern is V来V去, so the repeated verb must precede each directional element: 走来走去.
妈妈急得走来走去。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
第一次看到雪，她激动得又哭又笑。
Seeing snow for the first time, she was so excited that she cried and laughed.
第一次
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
看到
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
雪
Fixed Phrase
This part occupies the Fixed Phrase position in the model pattern.
，
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
她
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
激动
Fixed Phrase
This part occupies the Fixed Phrase position in the model pattern.
得
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
又哭又笑
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
第一次看到雪，她激动得又哭又笑。
Seeing snow for the first time, she was so excited that she cried and laughed.
女儿还没回来，妈妈急得走来走去。
Her daughter had not returned, so the mother paced anxiously.
婚礼那天，父母高兴得跑前跑后。
On the wedding day, the parents happily rushed around everywhere.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Portray mixed reactions: 她激动得又哭又笑。
- Describe restless repeated motion: 妈妈急得走来走去。
- Show busy movement in different directions: 父母高兴得跑前跑后。
Do not use it when
- Do not omit 得 between the cause predicate and the fixed phrase.
- Do not scramble the internal order of an established expression such as 走来走去.
- Do not invent a fixed phrase by mechanically replacing one element with an incompatible verb.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
妈妈急走来走去。
妈妈急得走来走去。
得 is omitted before the fixed complement
得 must link the state 急 to the fixed phrase 走来走去 that portrays its resulting behavior.
妈妈急得来走去走。
妈妈急得走来走去。
The internal order of the fixed directional phrase is broken
The established pattern is V来V去, so the repeated verb must precede each directional element: 走来走去.
妈妈急走来走去。
得 must link the state 急 to the fixed phrase 走来走去 that portrays its resulting behavior.
妈妈急得来走去走。
The established pattern is V来V去, so the repeated verb must precede each directional element: 走来走去.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 动词/形容词＋得＋固定短语.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 动词/形容词＋得＋固定短语. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
得 plus a Fixed-Phrase State Complement Questions
Why call the complement a fixed phrase?
Its internal form is conventional, such as 又哭又笑 or V来V去. The whole expression functions after 得.
Can a fixed phrase follow an adjective?
Yes. Emotional or state predicates such as 急, 激动, and 高兴 commonly introduce the resulting phrase with 得.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 5 grammar inventory, item 五37(3) (A.5.4.3), PDF page 228: 动词/形容词＋得＋固定短语
Supports placement in HSK 5; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 32, section 32.6, complements of extent; Google Books preview pages PT348-PT349
Explains that material after 得 can be a complex phrase describing extent or resulting behavior; conventional coordinated and directional phrases fill this slot.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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