Verb + 光
HSK 5- Complements
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Resultative complement 光 (guāng) expresses that an action results in something being completely used up or consumed, with nothing remaining.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
光 (guāng) is a resultative complement, placed after a verb to indicate that something has been used up completely, with nothing left. It emphasizes the result of being "empty" or "all gone."
The meaning of 光 is stronger than 完 (wán). 完 simply means "finished/done," whereas 光 means "finished and nothing remains." It is commonly used with verbs such as eat (吃), drink (喝), spend (花), sell (卖), and use (用).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他把钱都花光了。繁: 他把錢都花光了。Tā bǎ qián dōu huā guāng le.
He spent all his money.
- 我们把饭吃光了。繁: 我們把飯吃光了。Wǒmen bǎ fàn chī guāng le.
We finished all the rice.
- 冰箱里的牛奶喝光了。繁: 冰箱裡的牛奶喝光了。Bīngxiāng lǐ de niúnǎi hē guāng le.
The milk in the refrigerator has been drunk up.
- 这家店的面包卖光了。繁: 這家店的麵包賣光了。Zhè jiā diàn de miànbāo mài guāng le.
This shop's bread has sold out.
- 我的手机电用光了。繁: 我的手機電用光了。Wǒ de shǒujī diàn yòng guāng le.
My phone's battery is completely drained.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我把作业写光了。Correct:我把作业写完了。
The homework is "completed" (完), not "used up entirely" (光). 光 is only used for things that can be depleted.
- Wrong:我看光了这本书。Correct:我看完了这本书。
Reading a book is a completed action (完), not making the book disappear or run out (光).