What are Degree Complements (程度补语) in Chinese?

Degree Complements (程度补语) express the intensity or extent of an adjective or psychological verb. At HSK 4, the main patterns are: Adj + 死了 (extremely, e.g. 热死了 = boiling hot), Adj/V + 得厉害 (terribly/severely, e.g. 疼得厉害 = hurting badly), and Adj + 极了 (extremely, e.g. 好极了 = wonderful).

What are Potential Complements (可能补语) in Chinese?

Potential Complements (可能补语) indicate whether an action can or cannot be accomplished. The structure uses V + 得了 (liǎo) for 'can manage' and V + 不了 (liǎo) for 'cannot manage'. Note: the 了 here is pronounced liǎo, not le. Examples: 吃得了 = can eat it all, 吃不了 = cannot eat it all.

How is 了 (liǎo) different from 了 (le) in complements?

In Potential Complements, 了 is pronounced liǎo and means 'to finish / to manage / to be able'. It functions as a result complement. This is different from the particle 了 (le) which marks completion or change of state. For example, 吃不了 (chī bu liǎo) means 'cannot finish eating', while 吃了 (chī le) means 'ate / has eaten'.

HSK 4 Grammar

HSK 4 补语 — Degree & Potential Complements

Master the two key complement types at HSK 4: Degree Complements (程度补语) and Potential Complements (可能补语) with interactive exercises.

Types

Patterns

30+

Exercises

Complement Types at HSK 4 / 补语类型

程度补语 Degree

Degree Complements express the intensity or extent of an adjective or psychological verb. They answer "how much?" or "to what degree?" and are placed directly after the adjective or verb.

Adj / 心理V + 死了 / 得厉害 / 极了

可能补语 Potential

Potential Complements indicate whether an action can or cannot be accomplished. They use 得 (positive) or 不 (negative) inserted between the verb and the result complement 了 (liǎo).

V + 得了(liǎo) / V + 不了(liǎo)

Sentence Anatomy / 句子解剖

她紧张得厉害

Subject 主语

Adj / Verb

Marker 得/不

Complement 补语

Subject + Adj/V + Marker + Complement

A. Degree Complement Patterns / 程度补语句型

Pattern A1 Adj + 死了 Extremely... / ...to death

今天热死了！

Jīntiān rè sǐ le!

It's boiling hot today!

考试以前我紧张死了。

Kǎoshì yǐqián wǒ jǐnzhāng sǐ le.

I was extremely nervous before the exam.

走了一天路，累死了。

Zǒu le yī tiān lù, lèi sǐ le.

Walked all day, absolutely exhausted.

✗ 今天热死。

✓ 今天热死了。

死了 is a fixed pair in this pattern. 了 cannot be omitted; without it the expression is incomplete.

Pattern A2 Adj/V + 得厉害 Terribly / severely

她紧张得厉害。

Tā jǐnzhāng de lìhai.

She is terribly nervous.

我的头疼得厉害。

Wǒ de tóu téng de lìhai.

My head hurts badly.

外面冷得厉害，多穿点儿。

Wàimiàn lěng de lìhai, duō chuān diǎnr.

It's terribly cold outside, put on more clothes.

✗ 她紧张厉害。

✓ 她紧张得厉害。

The structural particle 得 is required between the adjective/verb and 厉害. Without 得, the sentence is ungrammatical.

Pattern A3 Adj + 极了 Extremely / couldn't be more...

这个消息好极了！

Zhège xiāoxi hǎo jí le!

This news is wonderful!

听到这件事，她高兴极了。

Tīng dào zhè jiàn shì, tā gāoxìng jí le.

Hearing this, she was overjoyed.

B. Potential Complement Patterns / 可能补语句型

Pronunciation alert: In Potential Complements, 了 is pronounced liǎo (third tone), NOT le. It means "to finish / to manage / to be able to handle" and functions as a result complement. This is completely different from the aspect particle 了 (le).

Pattern B1 V + 得了 (de liǎo) Can manage / able to handle

这些菜你们吃得了吗？

Zhèxiē cài nǐmen chī de liǎo ma?

Can you manage to eat all these dishes?

这个工作他一个人做得了。

Zhège gōngzuò tā yī gè rén zuò de liǎo.

He can handle this job by himself.

这么重的箱子你拿得了吗？

Zhème zhòng de xiāngzi nǐ ná de liǎo ma?

Can you carry such a heavy box?

Pattern B2 V + 不了 (bu liǎo) Cannot manage / unable to handle

点了太多菜，我吃不了。

Diǎn le tài duō cài, wǒ chī bu liǎo.

Ordered too much food, I can't eat it all.

这么多东西一个人拿不了。

Zhème duō dōngxi yī gè rén ná bu liǎo.

One person can't carry so many things.

明天的会议我参加不了。

Míngtiān de huìyì wǒ cānjiā bu liǎo.

I can't make it to tomorrow's meeting.

✗ 这些菜我不吃了。 (means "I won't eat anymore" — different meaning!)

✓ 这些菜我吃不了。 (means "I can't eat this much")

不吃了 (bù chī le) means "deciding not to eat anymore" (volition). 吃不了 (chī bu liǎo) means "unable to finish eating" (ability). They have completely different meanings.

Classic HSK 4 补语 Examples Explained / HSK 4 补语经典例句详解

12 high-frequency 补语 sentences covering both HSK 4 complement types: 程度补语 (degree complement: 死了/极了/坏了/厉害) and 可能补语 (potential complement: V得/不+了/起/动/见). Each example includes pinyin, English translation, structural breakdown, and the wrong way to say it.

热死了 — HSK 4 程度补语例句 #1

Rè sǐ le.

"It is unbearably hot." — adjective + 死了 (literally "to death", figuratively "extremely") is a HSK 4 NEW degree complement pattern. The 死 here doesn't mean death; it intensifies.

✓ 今天热死了，我都不想出门。 Jīntiān rè sǐ le, wǒ dōu bù xiǎng chū mén. — "It's unbearably hot today, I don't even want to go out."

✗ 今天很热死了。 — Don't add 很. The 死了 already maxes out intensity.

Same: 饿死了 / 累死了 / 困死了 / 急死了 / 气死了 / 高兴死了. Mostly negative emotions; "高兴死了" is one of few positive uses.

累得要命 — HSK 4 程度补语例句 #2

Lèi de yào mìng.

"Tired beyond belief." — adjective + 得要命 / 得不得了 / 得很 expresses extreme degree (HSK 4 advanced).

✓ 加了一天班，我累得要命。 Jiā le yì tiān bān, wǒ lèi de yào mìng. — "After overtime all day, I'm tired beyond belief."

Same: 饿得要命 / 高兴得要命 / 紧张得不得了 / 难过得要死 / 兴奋得很.

看得懂 — HSK 4 可能补语例句 #3

Kàn de dǒng.

"Can understand (by reading)." — V + 得 + result: indicates ability/possibility. Negative form: V + 不 + result (看不懂).

Form	Meaning	Example
看得懂	can understand	这本书我看得懂。
看不懂	cannot understand	这本书我看不懂。
看懂了	did understand (completed)	这本书我看懂了。

Same: 听得懂/听不懂 / 写得完/写不完 / 做得完/做不完 / 吃得下/吃不下 / 拿得动/拿不动.

吃不了 — HSK 4 可能补语例句 #4 (HSK 4 NEW)

Chī bù liǎo.

"Cannot finish eating." — V + 得/不 + 了 (liǎo) is the HSK 4 NEW potential complement pattern. The 了 here is pronounced liǎo, NOT le.

✓ 这么多菜，我一个人吃不了。 Zhème duō cài, wǒ yí gè rén chī bù liǎo. — "So much food, I cannot finish it alone."

HSK 4 KEY: 吃不了 (chī bù liǎo) ≠ 吃不到 (chī bù dào). 吃不了 = can't finish, too much. 吃不到 = can't get, unavailable. Both tested at HSK 4.

起不来 — HSK 4 可能补语例句 #5

Qǐ bù lái.

"Cannot get up." — directional complement 来/去 in possibility form. Common in everyday HSK 4 conversations.

✓ 早上闹钟响了，可是我起不来。 Zǎoshang nàozhōng xiǎng le, kěshì wǒ qǐ bù lái. — "The alarm rang in the morning, but I couldn't get up."

来不及 — HSK 4 可能补语例句 #6

Lái bu jí.

"Won't make it (in time)." — fixed 可能补语 expression for being too late. Positive form: 来得及 (lái de jí, will make it).

✓ 现在已经 8 点了，去机场来不及了。 Xiànzài yǐjīng 8 diǎn le, qù jīchǎng lái bu jí le. — "It's already 8, we won't make it to the airport."

Same fixed pattern: 来得及 (will make it) / 看不见 (can't see) / 听不见 (can't hear) / 想不到 (didn't expect).

走不动 — HSK 4 可能补语例句 #7

Zǒu bú dòng.

"Cannot walk anymore (no strength)." — V + 不动 = cannot continue the action due to physical limit.

✓ 我太累了，再也走不动了。 Wǒ tài lèi le, zài yě zǒu bú dòng le. — "I'm too tired, I can't walk anymore."

Same: 拿不动 / 搬不动 / 抬不动 / 坐不动. All express physical limit.

好极了 — HSK 4 程度补语例句 #8

Hǎo jí le.

"Excellent!" — adjective + 极了 expresses maximum positive degree.

✓ 这个主意好极了！ Zhège zhǔyi hǎo jí le! — "This idea is excellent!"

Same: 漂亮极了 / 棒极了 / 高兴极了 / 美极了 / 难吃极了 / 简单极了.

急得厉害 — HSK 4 程度补语例句 #9

Jí de lì hài.

"Extremely anxious." — psychological verb/adjective + 得厉害 = "to a serious degree".

✓ 孩子还没回家，妈妈急得厉害。 Háizi hái méi huí jiā, māma jí de lì hài. — "The child hasn't come home; mom is extremely anxious."

Same: 疼得厉害 / 哭得厉害 / 笑得厉害 / 咳嗽得厉害. 厉害 here marks intensity.

睡不着 — HSK 4 可能补语例句 #10

Shuì bù zháo.

"Cannot fall asleep." — V + 着 (zháo) = succeed in achieving a state. Cannot achieve = V不着.

✓ 我喝了咖啡，晚上睡不着。 Wǒ hē le kāfēi, wǎnshang shuì bù zháo. — "I drank coffee; I can't fall asleep tonight."

Same: 找不着 / 买不着 / 见不着 / 猜不着. 着 here is zháo (achieve), not zhe (continuous).

办不到 — HSK 4 可能补语例句 #11

Bàn bú dào.

"Cannot accomplish." — V + 到 = reach/accomplish; negative = cannot achieve.

✓ 这件事我恐怕办不到。 Zhè jiàn shì wǒ kǒngpà bàn bú dào. — "I'm afraid I cannot accomplish this matter."

Same: 想不到 / 见不到 / 找不到 / 看不到 / 听不到. 到 here means "reach the result".

高兴坏了 — HSK 4 程度补语例句 #12

Gāoxìng huài le.

"Overjoyed." — adjective + 坏了 used with positive emotions, ironic counterpart of 死了.

✓ 听到考上了大学的消息，他高兴坏了。 Tīng dào kǎo shàng le dàxué de xiāoxi, tā gāoxìng huài le. — "Hearing he passed the university exam, he was overjoyed."

Same: 激动坏了 / 开心坏了 / 累坏了 / 饿坏了. 坏了 expresses extreme degree, often emotional.

Sentence X-Ray / 句子透视

Click a word, then click a label to tag it. Identify every component in each sentence.

Click a word, then click a label to tag it. Tag all parts, then check.

Error Spotting / 纠错练习

Is this complement sentence correct or incorrect? Judge each sentence.

Comprehensive Quiz / 综合测试 (12 questions)

今天热！

死了 is a fixed degree complement pair. 了 cannot be omitted, and 得 is not used with 死了.

她紧张厉害。

The structural particle 得 links the adjective/verb to the degree complement 厉害. Do not confuse it with 的 (attributive) or 地 (adverbial).

这些菜我们吃。

V+不了(liǎo) is the Potential Complement meaning "cannot manage to finish." 不得 is not the correct form for this pattern.

Which sentence uses a Degree Complement correctly?

Adj+极了 is a correct degree complement pattern. 死 needs 了 after it; 得 needs a complement after it; and 极了 cannot precede the adjective.

What type of complement is used in: 我头疼得厉害？

得厉害 is a Degree Complement describing the intensity of the headache. It answers "how much does it hurt?" rather than indicating ability or result.

What type of complement is used in: 这么多我吃不了？

V+不了(liǎo) is a Potential Complement indicating the inability to accomplish the action. It answers "can you manage it?" not "how much?"

明天的会我参加。

"I can't make it to the meeting" uses V+不了(liǎo) to express inability. 没有 expresses "didn't" (past negation), which is a different meaning.

这个工作他一个人做。

"He can handle this job by himself" uses V+得了(liǎo), the positive form of the Potential Complement meaning "can manage."

Which sentence is INCORRECT?

她紧张厉害 is missing the structural particle 得. The correct form is 她紧张得厉害.

How is 了 (liǎo) different from 了 (le)?

了 (liǎo) is a verb meaning "to finish/manage" used as a result complement in V+得了/V+不了. 了 (le) is a particle marking completion or change of state.

这么重的箱子你拿吗？

"Can you carry it?" is a question using the positive V+得了(liǎo). The question particle 吗 makes it a yes/no question, so the positive form is used.

外面冷，别出去了。

Adj+得厉害 is the correct degree complement pattern meaning "terribly cold." 极 alone is incomplete (needs 了), and 厉害得 reverses the word order.

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