Resultative verb compounds
Resultative Verb Compounds (結果補語) connect an action verb with a result adjective or verb (e.g., 食飽 sik6 baau2 - eat full, 打死 daa2 sei2 - hit dead). The second element describes the immediate result or outcome of the action.
How It Works
Resultative Verb Compounds (結果補語, git3 gwo2 bou2 jyu5) are essential everyday building blocks in Cantonese grammar. They allow you to express both what action occurred ($V_1$) and what state or endpoint was achieved ($V_2$).
1. Basic Structure
• $V_1 \text{ (Action Verb)} + V_2 \text{ (Result Element)}$
Common $V_2$ elements include stative verbs/adjectives such as 飽 (baau2, full), 爛 (laan6, broken/torn), 錯 (co3, wrong), 乾淨 (gon1 zeng6, clean), or achievement verbs like 死 (sei2, dead), 完 (jyun4, finished), and 到 (dou2, attained in resultative contexts).
2. Inseparability of the Compound
In standard declarative statements, direct objects cannot split $V_1$ and $V_2$. The action verb and result verb must remain together, with the direct object following the compound:
• 我洗乾淨啲衫。 (ngo5 sai2 gon1 zeng6 di1 saam1) = I washed the clothes clean.
• Incorrect: *我洗衫乾淨。
3. Usage of Perfective Marker 咗 (zo2)
Because RVCs inherently convey completion, adding 咗 (zo2) is optional in simple state assertions, especially when combined with sentence-final particles like 喇 (laa3).
However, 咗 is grammatically fine and common when emphasizing perfective completion in transitive sentences (e.g., 佢打死咗隻蚊 keoi5 daa2 sei2 zo2 zek3 man1).
4. Declarative Negation vs. Potential Negation
To negate a past outcome (stating that the result did not happen), place 冇 (mou5) before the compound:
• 冇洗乾淨 (mou5 sai2 gon1 zeng6) = didn't wash clean (factual past negation).
To express potential inability to achieve a result, insert 唔 (m4) between $V_1$ and $V_2$ (or 得 (dak1) for potential success):
• 洗唔乾淨 (sai2 m4 gon1 zeng6) = cannot get clean (potential negation)
• 食得飽 (sik6 dak1 baau2) = can eat to full
Examples (4)
- 我食飽喇。
I'm full / I've eaten my fill.
Word by Word: I eat full [change of state].
Combines 食 (sik6, eat) with 飽 (baau2, full). The particle 喇 (laa3) marks the change of state without needing 咗 (zo2).
- 佢打死咗隻蚊。
He killed the mosquito (by swatting it).
Word by Word: He hit dead [perfective] [classifier] mosquito.
Combines 打 (daa2, hit) with 死 (sei2, dead). The perfective marker 咗 (zo2) is attached directly after the RVC before the object.
- 我聽錯你嘅意思。
I misheard / misunderstood your meaning.
Word by Word: I hear wrong your [possessive] meaning.
Combines 聽 (teng1, hear) with 錯 (co3, wrong) to describe the mistaken outcome of listening.
- 佢哋洗乾淨啲碗碟。
They washed the dishes clean.
Word by Word: They wash clean [plural classifier] dishes.
The action verb 洗 (sai2, wash) and result adjective 乾淨 (gon1 zeng6, clean) stay together before the object 啲碗碟.
Common Mistakes
Splitting the compound by putting the direct object between the verb and the result
*我洗衫乾淨。我洗乾淨啲衫。In Cantonese, the verb and result complement must form an inseparable unit. The object must follow the entire compound.
Misplacing the perfective marker 咗 (zo2) after the object instead of right after the compound
*佢打死隻蚊咗。佢打死咗隻蚊。When using 咗 (zo2) with a resultative compound and an object, 咗 must immediately follow the RVC ($V_1 + V_2$), coming before the object.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand resultative verb compounds (V+結果補語), you need to be familiar with basic Cantonese verb behavior and aspect. Since these compounds describe the result of an action and often function as a complete unit without needing the perfective marker '咗', understanding how '咗' works is a vital point of comparison. Additionally, because many results are expressed using stative verbs (adjectives), knowing how adjectives function as verbs is essential.
- 咗Perfective Aspect
The resultative compound often replaces the need for the perfective aspect marker '咗', so learners must understand '咗' to appreciate how resultatives function differently.
Level 1 - Adjectives Are Stative Verbs
Many resultative complements are stative verbs (adjectives) that describe the state resulting from the action.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- V+飽Eat Your Fill
A specific resultative compound pattern using 飽 (baau2, full) after eating or consuming.
Level 2 - V+錯Do It Wrongly
A specific resultative compound pattern using 錯 (co3, wrong) to indicate doing an action incorrectly.
Level 2 - V+好Do It Properly
A resultative compound pattern using 好 (hou2, good/ready) to denote doing something properly or completing preparation.
Level 2 - V+爛Break or Tear It
A resultative compound pattern using 爛 (laan6, broken/torn) to denote destroying or breaking something via the action.
Level 3 - V+完Finish Doing
A resultative compound pattern using 完 (jyun4, finish) to mark the conclusion of an activity.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- V+低Verb + Down OntoLevel 2
- V+明Make It ClearLevel 2
- Verb + 到 + ResultSo Much That…Level 3
- V+剩Leave Some OverLevel 3
- V+壞Spoil or Break ItLevel 3
- Verb + 得 + ComplementLong Potential (Can)Level 3
- V+慣Get Used to DoingLevel 3
- V+成Pull It OffLevel 3
And 6 more in the full list.
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