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…得不能再 + Adjective

HSK 6
  • Complements

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Adjective得不能再Adjective(了)

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

The structure ...得不能再 + Adjective is used to emphasize the highest degree, indicating that something cannot be more so than it already is.

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

This is a form of degree complement used to emphasize that a quality has reached its absolute extreme and cannot go any further. A rough translation would be "...to the point where it cannot be any more...".

This structure is very common in spoken language to express admiration, satisfaction, or sometimes strong complaints. The adjective is typically repeated before and after 得不能再.

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 这个蛋糕好得不能再好了。
    繁: 這個蛋糕好得不能再好了。Zhège dàngāo hǎo de bù néng zài hǎo le.

    This cake couldn't be better.

  2. 这件衣服便宜得不能再便宜了。
    繁: 這件衣服便宜得不能再便宜了。Zhè jiàn yīfu piányi de bù néng zài piányi le.

    This shirt is as cheap as it can possibly get.

  3. 他说得清楚得不能再清楚了。
    繁: 他說得清楚得不能再清楚了。Tā shuō de qīngchu de bù néng zài qīngchu le.

    He spoke as clearly as it was possible to speak.

  4. 这个房间干净得不能再干净了。
    繁: 這個房間乾淨得不能再幹淨了。Zhège fángjiān gānjìng de bù néng zài gānjìng le.

    This room is as clean as it could possibly be.

  5. 这个计划简单得不能再简单了。
    繁: 這個計劃簡單得不能再簡單了。Zhège jìhuà jiǎndān de bù néng zài jiǎndān le.

    This plan could not be simpler.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong:这个办法得不能再好了。
    Correct:这个办法好得不能再好了。

    An adjective must precede 得 to serve as the semantic center. This structure describes the degree of a specific quality.

  • Wrong:他好得不能再了。
    Correct:他好得不能再好了。

    This structure requires repeating the adjective after 再 to complete the emphatic meaning; it cannot be omitted.