掉 vs 完 (diào vs wán): Resultative Complements – Disposal vs Completion
In Chinese, both 掉 (diào) and 完 (wán) can appear after verbs as resultative complements, but they have different nuances. 掉 emphasizes the removal or disposal of an object, while 完 emphasizes the completion of an action. For example, 吃掉 means 'eat up (until gone)' and 吃完 means 'finish eating'. Choosing the correct complement depends on whether the focus is on the object being eliminated or the task being done.
Both 掉 (diào) and 完 (wán) are common resultative complements in Chinese, but they serve distinct functions. 掉 is used when the result of the action involves the removal, disappearance, or disposal of the object (e.g., 扔掉 'throw away'). 完 is used when the result is the completion of the action itself, regardless of whether the object is removed (e.g., 做完 'finish doing'). While they overlap in contexts like eating (吃掉/吃完 both mean 'finish eating'), 掉 carries a stronger sense of elimination, whereas 完 simply marks that the action is done.
When to use each
Use 掉 when the action results in the removal, disposal, or elimination of the object. It is common with verbs such as 吃 (eat), 扔 (throw), 删 (delete), and 杀 (kill). The complement emphasizes that the object is gone or no longer present.
掉 can also imply a sense of thoroughness or finality, as in 忘掉 (wàng diào, 'forget completely'), where the memory is eliminated.
Use 完 when the action is completed, regardless of the state of the object. It is common with verbs such as 看 (read/watch), 做 (do), 写 (write), and 说 (speak). The complement simply indicates that the action has reached its end point.
完 can also be used with 吃 (eat) to mean 'finish eating' without necessarily emphasizing that all food is gone (though it often implies it).
At a glance
| 掉 | 完 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Removal/disposal of object | Completion of action |
| Focus | The object is gone or eliminated | The action is finished |
| Common verbs | 吃, 扔, 删, 杀, 卖 | 看, 做, 写, 说, 读 |
| Can be used with verbs of non-removal? | No (e.g., *看掉 is non-standard in standard Mandarin) | Yes (e.g., 看完, 做完) |
| Typical negation | 没 + Verb + 掉 | 没 + Verb + 完 |
Examples
- 掉我把垃圾扔掉了。Wǒ bǎ lājī rēng diào le.I threw away the garbage.Emphasizes removal of the garbage.
- 完我吃完了早饭。Wǒ chī wán le zǎofàn.I finished eating breakfast.Emphasizes completion of the eating action.
- 掉他杀掉了那只老鼠。Tā shā diào le nà zhī lǎoshǔ.He killed that mouse.The mouse is eliminated.
- 完我看完了那本书。Wǒ kàn wán le nà běn shū.I finished reading that book.Action completed; book not necessarily disposed of.
- 掉请把这个字删掉。Qǐng bǎ zhège zì shān diào.Please delete this character.Emphasis on removal.
- 完作业做完了吗？Zuòyè zuò wán le ma?Is the homework finished?Focus on task completion.
Common mistakes
- Using 掉 for finishing a book or movie, e.g., 看掉那本书 (kàn diào nà běn shū) — this is non-standard; use 看完 unless you mean to dispose of the book.
- Using 完 for disposing items, e.g., 扔完垃圾 (rēng wán lājī) — this means 'finish the act of throwing the garbage' but not necessarily that the garbage is gone; use 扔掉 for disposal.
- Adding 掉 to verbs that don't involve removal, e.g., 学掉 (xué diào) — not standard; use 学会 (learn) or 学完 (finish studying).
- Overusing 掉 in neutral completion contexts where 完 is more natural, e.g., 写掉作业 (xiě diào zuòyè) sounds odd; use 写完作业.
FAQ
- When do I use 掉 vs 完 after a verb?
- Use 掉 when the result involves removing, disposing of, or eliminating the object. Use 完 when the result is simply the completion of the action. If the object is physically consumed or deleted, 掉 often fits; if the action is just finished, 完 is the safe choice.
- Can 掉 always replace 完?
- No. 掉 can only be used with verbs where the result naturally implies removal or disposal. For actions like reading (看) or writing (写), 完 is the correct complement unless you intend to say the item is gotten rid of (e.g., 卖掉那本书 'sell off that book' uses 掉). Using 掉 with 看 in general is non-standard.
- Is 吃掉 the same as 吃完?
- They are similar but not identical. 吃掉 emphasizes that the food is consumed (removed from existence), while 吃完 emphasizes that the act of eating is finished. In most everyday contexts, they are interchangeable, but 掉 carries a stronger sense of disposal. For example, 吃掉苹果 (chī diào píngguǒ) focuses on the apple being gone, while 吃完苹果 (chī wán píngguǒ) focuses on finishing the apple.