Result Complements (完/到/见) in Chinese
完/到/见
A result complement is a short word added right after a verb to show the outcome of the action: verb + result. 吃完 (finish eating), 看见 (see, as a result of looking), 找到 (find), 听懂 (understand by listening). The result attaches directly to the verb, before 了 or the object.
Published July 9, 2026
Reviewed July 9, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Verb + Result (吃完, 看见, 找到)
Read the structure
A result complement is a short word added right after a verb to show the outcome of the action: verb + result. 吃完 (finish eating), 看见 (see, as a result of looking), 找到 (find), 听懂 (understand by listening). The result attaches directly to the verb, before 了 or the object. Keep the model Verb + Result (吃完, 看见, 找到) visible while you compare each sentence.
我吃完了。
I've finished eating.
Choose the right context
Showing an action reached its result: 我吃完了。 Common results — 完 finish, 到 reach/succeed, 见 perceive, 懂 understand, 好 done: 作业写完了。 Negating with 没 when the result didn't happen: 我没听懂。
我找到了我的手机。
I found my phone.
Respect the boundary
Splitting verb and result — they stay together: 看见, not 看...见 with words between. 不 to negate a completed result — use 没: 我没找到, not 我不找到。 Confusing it with the potential form 得/不 — 看得见 / 看不见 (can/can't see) is a separate pattern.
我昨天不听懂。
(I didn't understand yesterday.)
Repair the pattern
不 used for a result that failed in a completed event: 昨天 makes this a completed event. When the intended result did not happen, use 没: 我昨天没听懂. For general inability, use the potential complement 听不懂。 Object inserted between verb and result: The result complement attaches directly to the verb: 吃完. The object goes after the verb + result: 吃完饭. Splitting 吃...完 with 饭 is wrong.
我昨天没听懂。
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.
我吃完了。
I've finished eating.
我
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
吃完
Result (吃完, 看见, 找到)
This part occupies the Result (吃完, 看见, 找到) position in the model pattern.
了
Verb
This part occupies the Verb 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.
我吃完了。
I've finished eating.
我找到了我的手机。
I found my phone.
你听懂了吗?
Did you understand (by listening)?
作业写完了。
The homework is finished.
我没看见他。
I didn't see him.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Showing an action reached its result: 我吃完了。
- Common results — 完 finish, 到 reach/succeed, 见 perceive, 懂 understand, 好 done: 作业写完了。
- Negating with 没 when the result didn't happen: 我没听懂。
Do not use it when
- Splitting verb and result — they stay together: 看见, not 看...见 with words between.
- 不 to negate a completed result — use 没: 我没找到, not 我不找到。
- Confusing it with the potential form 得/不 — 看得见 / 看不见 (can/can't see) is a separate pattern.
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.
我昨天不听懂。
我昨天没听懂。
不 used for a result that failed in a completed event
昨天 makes this a completed event. When the intended result did not happen, use 没: 我昨天没听懂. For general inability, use the potential complement 听不懂。
我吃饭完了。
我吃完饭了。
Object inserted between verb and result
The result complement attaches directly to the verb: 吃完. The object goes after the verb + result: 吃完饭. Splitting 吃...完 with 饭 is wrong.
我昨天不听懂。
A failed result in a completed event uses 没: 我昨天没听懂。
我吃饭完了。
Result attaches to the verb; object after: 我吃完饭了。
我看他见了。
Verb and result stay together: 我看见他了。
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 完/到/见.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 完/到/见. 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
Result Complements (完/到/见) Questions
What is a result complement?
A word right after a verb showing the outcome: 吃完 (finish eating), 看见 (see), 找到 (find), 听懂 (understand). It tells you the action succeeded or reached a result.
How do I make it negative?
For a completed event whose result did not happen, use 没(有): 我没吃完, 我没听懂. For general inability, use the potential complement with 不: 我听不懂 means "I can't understand it".
Where does the object go?
After the verb + result: 吃完饭 (finish the meal), 看完书 (finish the book). Keep the verb and result together; don't split them with the object.
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.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 完/到/见
Supports the learner-facing account of where 完/到/见 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 完/到/见
Cross-checks the Verb + Result (吃完, 看见, 找到) pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese 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 2 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 2; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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