可能补语（V得/不+结果） kěnéng bǔyǔ (V de/bu + jiéguǒ)
可能补语（V得/不+结果）（kěnéng bǔyǔ (V de/bu + jiéguǒ)）means “Verb + 得/不 + result: expresses whether an action can achieve a result (ability/possibility)”. The potential complement inserts 得 (can) or 不 (cannot) between a verb and its result complement: 看得懂 = able to understand by reading, 看不懂 = unable to. Formation: 动词 + 得/不 + 结果补语（看得懂 / 看不懂）
Verb + 得/不 + result: expresses whether an action can achieve a result (ability/possibility)
HSK3Formation
动词 + 得/不 + 结果补语（看得懂 / 看不懂）
Explanation
The potential complement inserts 得 (can) or 不 (cannot) between a verb and its result complement: 看得懂 = able to understand by reading, 看不懂 = unable to. It focuses on whether the result is achievable, unlike the degree 得 which describes how well something is done. The negative 不 is toneless here.
Examples
Note
❌ 我不能看懂 ✅ 我看不懂 — use the potential complement, not 不能 + verb.
FAQ
可能补语（V得/不+结果） — what does it mean and how is it used?
Verb + 得/不 + result: expresses whether an action can achieve a result (ability/possibility). The potential complement inserts 得 (can) or 不 (cannot) between a verb and its result complement: 看得懂 = able to understand by reading, 看不懂 = unable to. It focuses on whether the result is achievable, unlike the degree 得 which describes how well something is done. The negative 不 is toneless here.
可能补语（V得/不+结果） — how do you form it?
动词 + 得/不 + 结果补语（看得懂 / 看不懂）
可能补语（V得/不+结果） — any usage notes?
❌ 我不能看懂 ✅ 我看不懂 — use the potential complement, not 不能 + verb.