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来得 (lái dé) — to be competent or capable of (a task); to come about; to arise (often with an adverb: 很, 太, 不)

Definition

来得 is a verb used in two patterns: with 很/太/不 it means 'come about / arise' (e.g. 来得突然); with a task it means 'be capable of handling' it.

verb
to be competent or capable of (a task)to come aboutto arise (often with an adverb: 很, 太, 不)

Examples

  • 来得。
    Zhè shì lái dé hěn tū rán.
    This matter came about quite suddenly.
  • 来得。
    Zhè zhǒng gōng zuò tā lái dé.
    He is capable of this kind of work.
  • 来得。
    Jī huì lái dé bù róng yì.
    Opportunities don't come easily.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

来láicome
得déable

来 gives the sense of coming, and 得 gives the sense of ability, forming an idiomatic meaning of being competent.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

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Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

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Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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