Potential Complement: 得了/不了 (déliǎo/bùliǎo)

This pattern is all about the result of an action. The character 了 is the star here. But watch out! It is not the past tense le. In this specific pattern, it is always pronounced liǎo. This pronunciation means "to finish" or "to complete." When you put it after 得 or 不, you are talking about completion. 得 acts as the bridge for "can." 不 acts as the bridge for "cannot." It is a very efficient way to say "I can/cannot handle this task."

1. 1Start with your main verb (like 吃, 做, or 走).
2. 2Insert the potential marker: 得 for positive or 不 for negative.
3. 3Add the result: 了 (pronounced *liǎo*).
4. 4Structure: [Verb] + 得/不 + 了.
5. 5Positive: 做得了 (zuò dé liǎo) — Can finish doing it.
6. 6Negative: 做不了 (zuò bù liǎo) — Cannot finish doing it.

Use this when physical limits stop you. If a suitcase is 50kg, you 提不了 (cannot lift it). Use it for time constraints. If you have five meetings today, you 去不了 the gym. It is also perfect for objective circumstances. If the road is flooded, you 走不了 (cannot go/leave).

Another huge use case is emotional or mental capacity. The most famous phrase is 受不了 (shòu bù liǎo). This means "I can't stand it!" Use it when your neighbor starts drilling at 6 AM. Use 忘不了 (wàng bù liǎo) when you cannot forget a beautiful memory. It covers everything from physical strength to deep emotions. It is much more descriptive than just saying "no."

Do not use this for permission. If your teacher says you cannot leave, use 不能. 不了 is for when the door is locked and you physically cannot leave. Do not use it for learned skills. If you never learned to drive, use 不会. Use 不了 if you know how to drive, but the car is broken.

Also, do not mix it with other complements. You cannot say 吃不完了. The 了 already acts as the completion marker. Keep it simple. One verb, one marker, one 了. Think of it as a specialized tool. You wouldn't use a hammer to eat soup, right? Use 不了 only for objective completion and capacity.

The biggest trap is pronunciation. If you say chī bù le, people might think you are ending a sentence. Always aim for the third tone: liǎo. Yes, even advanced learners mess this up sometimes! Another mistake is using it for simple negation. 我不吃 means "I won't eat." 我吃不了 means "I want to eat, but I'm too full."

Don't forget the 得 in the positive version. Beginners often say 我做了 when they mean 我做得了. The first one means "I did it." The second one means "I am capable of finishing it." One tiny character changes the whole meaning. It is like the difference between "I ran" and "I can run a marathon."

Let's compare 吃不了 and 不能吃. 不能吃 usually means it is forbidden or dangerous. For example, a dog 不能吃 chocolate. 吃不了 means the portion is too big. You are full.

What about 吃不了 vs 吃不完? They are very close. 吃不完 specifically means the quantity is too much. 吃不了 is broader. It could mean you are full, or you have a toothache, or you are allergic. 不了 is the "catch-all" for "cannot complete the action for any objective reason."