得了 vs 不了 (deliǎo vs buliǎo): affirmative and negative potential complements
得了 (deliǎo) and 不了 (buliǎo) are potential complements attached to verbs to express whether an action can be successfully completed. 得了 indicates ability (“can manage to do”), while 不了 indicates inability (“cannot manage to do”). They are formed with the resultative verb 了 (liǎo, meaning “finish” or “manage”) and are not related to the aspect particle 了 (le).
得了 and 不了 are potential complements formed by inserting 得 or 不 before the resultative verb 了 (liǎo), which means “to finish” or “to manage”. When attached to a main verb (e.g., 吃 chī), they indicate whether the action can be brought to a successful conclusion. 得了 expresses affirmative potential (“able to finish/manage”), while 不了 expresses negative potential (“unable to finish/manage”). This is different from the aspect particle 了 (le) and from modal verbs like 可以 or 能; these complements specifically focus on completion or management of the action.
When to use each
Use 得了 (attached to a verb) to indicate that someone can manage to complete or handle an action, often implying a satisfactory result. It is common with verbs of consumption, disposal, or tasks, e.g., 吃得了 (can finish eating), 办得了 (can handle/manage). It conveys confidence or certainty about the outcome.
In informal speech, 得了 can also be used alone as an interjection meaning “that’s enough” or “forget it”, but that is a separate usage unrelated to the potential complement.
Use 不了 (attached to a verb) to indicate that someone cannot manage to complete or handle an action, often due to capacity, time, or ability. For example, 吃不了 (cannot finish eating), 去不了 (cannot go because of circumstances). It directly negates the potential expressed by 得了.
不了 is sometimes confused with the aspect particle 了 in sentences like 我吃不了 (wǒ chībuliǎo, “I can’t finish”) vs 我吃了 (wǒ chīle, “I ate”). The pronunciation and context distinguish them: 不了 is always pronounced buliǎo and attached to the verb.
At a glance
| 得了 | 不了 | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Affirmative potential: can manage to complete/finish | Negative potential: cannot manage to complete/finish |
| Formation | Verb + 得了 (e.g., 吃得了) | Verb + 不了 (e.g., 吃不了) |
| Pronunciation of 了 | 了 is pronounced liǎo (third tone) | 了 is pronounced liǎo (third tone) |
| Common verbs used with | 吃 (eat), 做 (do), 办 (handle), 来 (come/can manage to come) | Same verbs, plus 去 (go), 走 (leave), 管 (manage) |
| Confusion risk | Can be mistaken for modal verb 能, but 得了 is more specific to completion | Often confused with aspect particle 了 (le) or with 不到 (cannot achieve) |
Examples
- 得了这么多菜，我吃得了。Zhème duō cài, wǒ chīdeliǎo.So many dishes, I can finish them.得了 indicates ability to consume all the food.
- 不了太多菜了，我吃不了。Tài duō cài le, wǒ chībuliǎo.Too many dishes, I can't finish them.不了 negates the ability to complete the act of eating.
- 得了这件小事他办得了。Zhè jiàn xiǎo shì tā bàndeliǎo.He can handle this small matter.办得了 means 'can handle/manage'.
- 不了今天我去不了公司了。Jīntiān wǒ qùbuliǎo gōngsī le.I can't go to the company today.去不了 means 'cannot go (due to circumstances)'. Note the sentence-final 了 (le) is aspectual, not part of the complement.
- 得了你一个人搬得了吗？Nǐ yī gè rén bāndeliǎo ma?Can you carry it alone?Question form with 得了 asks about ability to complete the moving task.
- 不了他做不了这么多工作。Tā zuòbuliǎo zhème duō gōngzuò.He can't manage so much work.做不了 indicates inability to complete the work load.
Common mistakes
- Using 不了 as an aspect particle (e.g., 我吃了 is correct for 'I ate', not 我吃不了 which means 'I can't finish').
- Confusing 得了 with 能: 能吃饭 means 'can eat' (permission/ability), while 吃得了 means 'can finish eating' (completion).
- Using 不了 after a verb that does not imply completion: e.g., 他学不了中文 (tā xuébbuliǎo zhōngwén) if you mean 'he can't learn Chinese' (better: 他学不会中文). 不了 is for managing to complete an ongoing action, not for acquiring a skill.
- Mispronouncing 了 in 不了 as 'le' instead of 'liǎo', leading to misunderstanding.
FAQ
- When do I use 得了 vs 不了?
- Use 得了 when you want to say you can manage to complete or finish an action (e.g., 吃得了 = can finish eating). Use 不了 to say the opposite (e.g., 吃不了 = cannot finish). Both are attached directly to the verb.
- Is 不了 the same as the aspect particle 了?
- No. 不了 (buliǎo) is a potential complement indicating inability to complete an action. The aspect particle 了 (le) marks a completed action or change of state. They are pronounced differently and have different functions.
- Can 得了 and 不了 be used with any verb?
- They are most common with verbs that imply a result or completion, such as 吃 (eat), 做 (do), 办 (handle), 去 (go), 来 (come). They are less natural with verbs like 喜欢 (like) or 知道 (know), which don’t involve a finishable task.
- What is the difference between 吃不了 and 不能吃?
- 吃不了 (chībuliǎo) specifically means 'cannot finish eating (because the quantity is too large or you are full)'. 不能吃 (bù néng chī) means 'cannot eat' (due to prohibition, allergy, or general inability). They are not interchangeable.