Potential Complement with 得 or 不得 in Chinese
动词＋得/不得
A small set of verbs combines directly with 得 or 不得 to state whether an action is permissible, possible, or tolerable in context. These are established combinations rather than a freely productive replacement for every potential complement. The choice depends on the verb and intended meaning, so forms should be learned with examples.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Verb + 得 / 不得
Read the structure
A small set of verbs combines directly with 得 or 不得 to state whether an action is permissible, possible, or tolerable in context. These are established combinations rather than a freely productive replacement for every potential complement. The choice depends on the verb and intended meaning, so forms should be learned with examples. Keep the model Verb + 得 / 不得 visible while you compare each sentence.
这个秘密说不得。
This secret must not be told.
Choose the right context
Ask whether something may be said: 这件事说得说不得？ Reject an impermissible action: 这种钱花不得。 State that a person or thing cannot be offended or touched: 他得罪不得。
那位客人可得罪不得。
That guest is someone you cannot afford to offend.
Respect the boundary
Do not attach bare 不得 to every verb as a universal negative potential form. Do not reverse the order to 得不 after the verb. Do not confuse lexical V不得 meaning must not or cannot with sentence-final obligation 得.
这个秘密说得不。
(This secret tell can-not.)
Repair the pattern
得 and 不 are reversed inside the complement: The negative member is the fixed postverbal form 不得. 得不 is not its grammatical reversal. 不得 is split by degree material: 不得 is the fixed postverbal negative member here and cannot be split by 很.
这个秘密说不得。
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.
这个秘密说不得。
This secret must not be told.
这个
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
秘密
得 / 不得
This part occupies the 得 / 不得 position in the model pattern.
说
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
不得
得 / 不得
This part occupies the 得 / 不得 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.
这个秘密说不得。
This secret must not be told.
那位客人可得罪不得。
That guest is someone you cannot afford to offend.
这种来历不明的钱花不得。
Money of unknown origin must not be spent.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Ask whether something may be said: 这件事说得说不得？
- Reject an impermissible action: 这种钱花不得。
- State that a person or thing cannot be offended or touched: 他得罪不得。
Do not use it when
- Do not attach bare 不得 to every verb as a universal negative potential form.
- Do not reverse the order to 得不 after the verb.
- Do not confuse lexical V不得 meaning must not or cannot with sentence-final obligation 得.
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.
这个秘密说得不。
这个秘密说不得。
得 and 不 are reversed inside the complement
The negative member is the fixed postverbal form 不得. 得不 is not its grammatical reversal.
这些东西你可拿不很得。
这些东西你可拿不得。
不得 is split by degree material
不得 is the fixed postverbal negative member here and cannot be split by 很.
这个秘密说得不。
The negative member is the fixed postverbal form 不得. 得不 is not its grammatical reversal.
这些东西你可拿不很得。
不得 is the fixed postverbal negative member here and cannot be split by 很.
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＋得/不得.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 动词＋得/不得. 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
Potential Complement with 得 or 不得 Questions
Is V不得 the same as V不了?
Not generally. V不得 often has an established prohibitive or intolerable meaning, while V不了 commonly denies capacity or completion.
Can I create V不得 with any verb?
No. Treat it as a restricted construction and verify that the verb forms an idiomatic combination.
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 五35 (A.5.4.3), PDF page 227: 可能补语2，动词＋得/不得
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: Chapters 18 and 19, sections 18.6 and 19.5, and Chapter 32, section 32.2; Google Books preview pages PT185-PT201 and PT340
Describes potential complements with 得 or 不 between a verb and a resultative or directional element and distinguishes established short potential forms.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
来得及 / 来不及来得及 / 来不及: In Time or Too Late
Compare this lesson with 来得及 or 来不及 evaluating whether time permits completion; both belong to potential, attainable, and extreme results, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
形容词＋得不得了得不得了 for an Extreme Degree
Compare this lesson with 得不得了 presenting an extreme degree; both belong to potential, attainable, and extreme results, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
动词/形容词＋透了透了 for an Extreme State
Compare this lesson with 透了 presenting a result or state at an extreme; both belong to potential, attainable, and extreme results, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Continue learning
完/到/见Result Complements (完/到/见)
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
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