Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

32 indicating result, conclusion, potential, and extent

32.1 indicating the result or conclusion of an action with

resultative verbs

In Mandarin, action verbs refer to open-ended processes and not to their conclusions or results.

For example, the verb 买/買 mǎi refers to ‘shopping,’ not ‘buying.’ The verb 找 zhǎo refers

to ‘looking for’ something, not ‘finding’ it.

English sometimes uses two entirely different verbs to refer to a process and its result or con-

clusion. In Mandarin, processes and results are always expressed using the same verb. The

process is expressed with an open-ended action verb. The result or conclusion is expressed by

adding a resultative suffix to the open-ended action verb. Verbs that are formed by an action

verb and a resultative suffix are often referred to as resultative verbs.

Resultative verb structure: action verb + resultative ending

Note Some grammars refer to the resultative suffix as a complement of result.

C13, 18

32.1.1 Common resultative suffixes

Resultative suffixes that indicate the conclusion of an action:

Suffix Meaning

完

wán to finish

好

hǎo to do to a successful conclusion

Resultative suffixes that indicate the result of an action:

Suffix Meaning

见/見 to perceive

jiàn (used with verbs of perception: see, hear, smell)

到

dào to attain a goal, to acquire (like 着/著 zháo)

着/著

zháo to attain a goal, to acquire (like 到 dào)

错/錯

cuò to do wrong, to be mistaken