Get to grips with expressing actions and \u2018finished\u2019 actions in Chinese by following these sentence patterns and example sentences. We’ll look at suffixes you can use to complete an action and how to create negative action sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To describe how an action is performed or how it was performed in the past, use the following sentence pattern<\/p>\n\n\n\n
action verb + \u5f97<\/a> (de) + adjectival verb<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u8bf4\u5f97\u5feb<\/a>\u3002 (t\u0101 shu\u014d de ku\u00e0i) He talks quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5979\u5f00\u5f97\u6162<\/a>\u3002 (t\u0101 k\u0101i de m\u00e0n) She drives slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Negate an action sentence with \u4e0d<\/a> (b\u00f9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u5403\u5f97\u4e0d\u5feb<\/a>\u3002 (t\u0101 ch\u012b de b\u00f9 ku\u00e0i) He doesn’t eat quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to ask about an action, then use the phrase, \u2018\u2026\u5f97\u600e\u4e48\u6837<\/a>?\u2019 (de z\u011bn me y\u00e0ng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u8003\u5f97\u600e\u4e48\u6837<\/a>\uff1f(n\u01d0 k\u01ceo de z\u011bn me y\u00e0ng) How did you do in the test?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Describing the performance of an action with an adverbial modifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5b69\u5b50\u4eec\u9ad8\u9ad8\u5174\u5174\u5730\u5728\u516c\u56ed\u91cc\u73a9<\/a>\u3002 (h\u00e1i zi men g\u0101o g\u0101o x\u00ecngx\u00ecng de z\u00e0i g\u014dng yu\u00e1n l\u01d0 w\u00e1n) The children are playing happily in the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common adverbial modifiers are<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6162\u6162\u5730<\/a> (m\u00e0n m\u00e0n de) slowly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5feb\u5feb\u5730<\/a> (ku\u00e0i ku\u00e0i de) quickly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u597d\u597d\u5730<\/a> (h\u01ceo h\u01ceo de) well<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5077\u5077\u5730<\/a> (t\u014du t\u014du de) secretly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u9759\u9759\u5730<\/a> (j\u00ecng j\u00ecng de) peacefully<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6084\u6084\u5730<\/a> (qi\u01ceo qi\u01ceo de) quietly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5174\u594b\u5730<\/a> (x\u012bng f\u00e8n de) excitedly<\/p>\n\n\n\n Action verb + resultative ending<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suffixes that indicate the conclusion of an action<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5b8c<\/a> (w\u00e1n) to finish<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u597d<\/a> (h\u01ceo) successful conclusion<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suffixes that indicate the result of an action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u89c1<\/a> (ji\u00e0n) to see (\u770b\u89c1<\/a> (k\u00e0n ji\u00e0n) to see, \u542c\u89c1<\/a> (t\u012bng ji\u00e0n) to hear etc)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5230<\/a> (d\u00e0o) \/ \u7740<\/a> (zh\u00e1o) to attain a goal or to acquire<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u9519<\/a> (cu\u00f2) to be mistaken<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u9971<\/a> (b\u01ceo) to be full<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u61c2<\/a> (d\u01d2ng) to understand<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f1a<\/a> (hu\u00ec) to know<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f4f<\/a> (zh\u00f9) to stay<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5f00<\/a> (k\u0101i) to open<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u591f<\/a> (g\u00f2u) enough<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5149<\/a> (gu\u0101ng) to use up<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6e05\u695a<\/a> (q\u012bng chu) to be clear<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5e72\u51c0<\/a> (g\u0101n j\u00ecng) to be clean<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bf4\u5b8c<\/a> (shu\u014d w\u00e1n) to finish talking<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5403\u5b8c<\/a> (ch\u012b w\u00e1n) to finish eating<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u7528\u5b8c<\/a> (y\u00f2ng w\u00e1n) to use up<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bf4\u597d<\/a> (shu\u014d h\u01ceo) to reach agreement<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u542c\u89c1<\/a> (t\u012bng ji\u00e0n) to hear something<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u770b\u89c1<\/a> (k\u00e0n ji\u00e0n) to see something<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u542c\u5230<\/a> (t\u012bng d\u00e0o) to hear something<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u770b\u5230<\/a> (k\u00e0n d\u00e0o) to see something<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u95fb\u5230<\/a> (w\u00e9n d\u00e0o) to smell something<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e70\u5230<\/a> (m\u01cei d\u00e0o) to buy<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u627e\u5230<\/a> (zh\u01ceo d\u00e0o) to find<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e70\u7740<\/a> (m\u01cei zh\u00e1o) to buy<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u627e\u7740<\/a> (zh\u01ceo zh\u00e1o) to find<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u7761\u7740<\/a> (shu\u00ec zh\u00e1o) to fall asleep<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u505a\u9519<\/a> (zu\u00f2 cu\u00f2) to do wrong<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5199\u9519<\/a> (xi\u011b cu\u00f2) to write incorrectly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e70\u9519<\/a> (m\u01cei cu\u00f2) to buy the wrong thing<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u7528\u9519<\/a> (y\u00f2ng cu\u00f2) to use incorrectly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5403\u9971<\/a> (ch\u012b b\u01ceo) to be full<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u770b\u61c2<\/a> (k\u00e0n d\u01d2ng) to read and understand<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u542c\u61c2<\/a> (t\u012bng d\u01d2ng) to listen and understand<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5b66\u4f1a<\/a> (xu\u00e9 hu\u00ec) to study and master something<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bb0\u4f4f<\/a> (j\u00ec zhu) to remember<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6253\u5f00<\/a> (d\u01ce k\u0101i) to open<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5403\u591f<\/a> (ch\u012b g\u00f2u) to eat enough<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u95ee\u6e05\u695a<\/a> (w\u00e8n q\u012bng chu) to ask something until clear<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u64e6\u5e72\u51c0<\/a> (c\u0101 g\u0101n j\u00ecng) to wipe until clean<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6d17\u5e72\u51c0<\/a> (x\u01d0 g\u0101n j\u00ecng) to wash until clean<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can add the particle \u4e86<\/a> (le) to all of the above action verbs to show that the action has been completed or desired result has been achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To show that the results were not completed, use \u6ca1<\/a> (m\u00e9i). This character is a negative prefix for verbs and means \u2018to have not\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6ca1\u542c\u61c2<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u00e9i t\u012bng d\u01d2ng) I don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use the \u5f97<\/a> (de) particle to indicate that it is possible<\/b> to perform an action and also complete it. Generally, the following sentence pattern can be used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Action verb + \u5f97<\/a> (de) + resultative suffix<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u770b\u5f97\u61c2\u6c49\u5b57<\/a>\u3002 (w\u01d2 k\u00e0n de d\u01d2ng h\u00e0n z\u00ec.) I understand characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adding the prefix \u4e0d<\/a> (b\u00f9), meaning \u2018not\u2019, indicates that is it not possible to perform an action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u627e\u4e0d\u5230\u6211\u94b1\u5305<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 zh\u01ceo bu d\u00e0o w\u01d2 qi\u00e1n b\u0101o) I can\u2019t find my purse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a result cannot be reached \u2018no matter what\u2019 then add \u600e\u4e48<\/a> (z\u011bn me).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u600e\u4e48\u627e\u4e5f\u627e\u4e0d\u5230<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 z\u011bn me zh\u01ceo y\u011b zh\u01ceo bu d\u00e0o) No matter how I look I can\u2019t find it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To show ability or inability to perform an action use \u5f97\u4e86<\/a> (d\u00e9 li\u01ceo) for ability and \u4e0d\u4e86<\/a> (b\u00f9 li\u01ceo) for inability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verb + \u5f97\u4e86<\/a> (d\u00e9 li\u01ceo) \/ \u4e0d\u4e86<\/a> (b\u00f9 li\u01ceo) (able\/unable)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5f97\u4e86<\/a> (d\u00e9 li\u01ceo)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u5403\u5f97\u4e86\u8fd9\u4e48\u591a\u9762\u5305\u5417<\/a>\uff1f(n\u01d0 ch\u012b d\u00e9 li\u01ceo zh\u00e8 me du\u014d mi\u00e0n b\u0101o ma) Can you eat that much bread?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0d\u4e86<\/a> (b\u00f9 li\u01ceo)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4eca\u5929\u7684\u529f\u8bfe\u8fd9\u4e48\u591a\uff0c \u6211\u505a\u4e0d\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(j\u012bn ti\u0101n de g\u014dng k\u00e8 zh\u00e8 me du\u014d, w\u01d2 zu\u00f2 b\u00f9 li\u01ceo) There is too much homework today, I can\u2019t complete it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6389<\/a> (di\u00e0o), can be used to indicate completion, but with negative connotations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some examples of using \u6389 are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u7529\u6389<\/a> (shu\u01cei di\u00e0o) to throw away \/ get rid of<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6254\u6389<\/a> (r\u0113ng di\u00e0o) to throw away<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5fd8\u6389<\/a> (w\u00e0ng di\u00e0o) to forget<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e22\u6389<\/a> (di\u016b di\u00e0o) to lose<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8131\u6389<\/a> (tu\u014d di\u00e0o) to remove<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5f97\u53ca<\/a> (de j\u00ed) \/ \u4e0d\u53ca<\/a> (b\u00f9 j\u00ed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u53ca<\/a> (j\u00ed) means to complete an action on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6765\u5f97\u53ca<\/a> (l\u00e1i de j\u00ed) to arrive on time<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6765\u4e0d\u53ca<\/a> (l\u00e1i bu j\u00ed) cannot arrive on time<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5f97\u8d77<\/a> (de q\u01d0) \/ \u4e0d\u8d77<\/a> (bu q\u01d0) – afford to do<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5403\u5f97\u8d77<\/a> (ch\u012b de q\u01d0) afford to eat<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5403\u4e0d\u8d77<\/a> (ch\u012b b\u00f9 q\u01d0)cannot afford to eat<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f4f\u5f97\u8d77<\/a> (zh\u00f9 de q\u01d0) afford to live<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f4f\u4e0d\u8d77<\/a> (zh\u00f9 b\u00f9 q\u01d0) cannot afford to live<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u770b\u4e0d\u8d77<\/a> (k\u00e0n bu q\u01d0) to look down on someone<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77<\/a> (du\u00ec bu q\u01d0) to be sorry for<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6ca1\u6709\u505a\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77\u4f60\u7684\u4e8b<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u00e9i y\u01d2u zu\u00f2 du\u00ec bu q\u01d0 n\u01d0 de sh\u00ec.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have not done anything to you that I feel sorry for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5bf9\u5f97\u8d77<\/a> (du\u00ec de q\u01d0) be worthy of \/ not let sb. down \/ treat sb. fairly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6240\u505a\u7684\u9009\u62e9\uff0c\u5bf9\u5f97\u8d77\u6211\u81ea\u5df1\u7684\u826f\u5fc3<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 su\u01d2 zu\u00f2 de xu\u01cen z\u00e9, du\u00ec de q\u01d0 w\u01d2 z\u00ec j\u01d0 de li\u00e1ng x\u012bn.) The choice I made is worthy of my own conscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0a<\/a> (sh\u00e0ng) has a different meaning when used with a resultant verb<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8003\u5f97\u4e0a<\/a> (k\u01ceo de sh\u00e0ng) able to pass entrance exam<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8003\u4e0d\u4e0a<\/a> (k\u01ceo b\u00f9 sh\u00e0ng) unable to pass<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0d\u5b9a<\/a> (b\u00fa d\u00ecng) indefinite<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u62ff\u4e0d\u5b9a<\/a> (n\u00e1 bu d\u00ecng) unsure<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bf4\u4e0d\u5b9a<\/a> (shu\u014d bu d\u00ecng) perhaps \/ maybe<\/p>\n\n\n\nDescribing Actions Using Adverbial Modifiers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Completion and \u2018Finished\u2019 Actions in Chinese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other Completed Actions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Negative Uses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n