Verb + 到
HSK 2- Complements
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The resultative complement 到 indicates that an action has achieved its intended goal or desired result.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
到 (dào) is a resultative complement placed after a verb to indicate that the action has achieved its intended goal. It differs from simply performing the action without any indication of outcome.
For example, 找 means "to look for," but 找到 means "to find (successfully)." 买 means "to buy," but 买到 means "to successfully purchase." Its negative form is 没 + Verb + 到.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我找到我的手机了。繁: 我找到我的手機了。Wǒ zhǎo dào wǒ de shǒujī le.
I found my phone.
- 你买到票了吗？繁: 你買到票了嗎？Nǐ mǎi dào piào le ma?
Have you bought the tickets yet?
- 我没看到他。繁: 我沒看到他。Wǒ méi kàn dào tā.
I didn't see him.
- 你听到什么了？繁: 你聽到什麼了？Nǐ tīng dào shénme le?
What did you hear?
- 我收到了你的邮件。繁: 我收到了你的郵件。Wǒ shōu dào le nǐ de yóujiàn.
I received your email.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我找我的手机了。Correct:我找到我的手机了。
找 only means the action of 'seeking', while 找到 means 'finding', indicating that a result has been achieved.
- Wrong:我不买到票。Correct:我没买到票。
To negate an action that did not achieve a result in the past, use 没, not 不.