<p>There are only two potential particles, and they are 得 and 不</p>
<p>When a potential particle is inserted between a verb and its result complement, it turn that verb from an active verb into a potential verb</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>看見 = See</p>
<p>看得見 = can see</p>
<p>看不見 = can’t see</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>聽到 = hear</p>
<p>聽得到 = can hear</p>
<p>聽不到 = can‘t hear</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When an adverb 不 or 沒 is placed before a verb, it funcutions as  ‘not’ and ‘have not’ respectively.</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>看 = to see</p>
<p>不看 = not to see</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>有看 = have seen</p>
<p>沒看 = have not seen</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-13T22:11:24.170Z
2018-07-13T22:11:24.170Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>For example,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>看见 - 看<strong>不</strong>见</p>
<p>离开 - 离<strong>不</strong>开</p>
</blockquote>
<p>but</p>
<blockquote>
<p>喜欢 - <strong>不</strong>喜欢</p>
<p>知道 - <strong>不</strong>知道</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Why is this done and how do I know if I should or shouldn't do it when negating? Couldn't find anything on the Internet.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-13T22:42:55.763Z
A resource to expand on Tang Ho's answer: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Potential_complement
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-13T22:56:00.673Z
does ＂finer points of the Chinese language＂include basic grammar?
user6065
<grammar>
Why is 不 sometimes put between the syllables of a 2-syllable word?
# Why is 不 sometimes put between the syllables of a 2-syllable word?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-13)

For example,

> 看见 - 看**不**见
>
> 离开 - 离**不**开

but

> 喜欢 - **不**喜欢
>
> 知道 - **不**知道

Why is this done and how do I know if I should or shouldn't do it when negating? Couldn't find anything on the Internet.

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A resource to expand on username_3's answer: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Potential_complement  
> **username_2**: does ＂finer points of the Chinese language＂include basic grammar?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-13. Score: 3

There are only two potential particles, and they are 得 and 不

When a potential particle is inserted between a verb and its result complement, it turn that verb from an active verb into a potential verb

Examples:

> 看見 = See
>
> 看得見 = can see
>
> 看不見 = can’t see

~

> 聽到 = hear
>
> 聽得到 = can hear
>
> 聽不到 = can‘t hear

When an adverb 不 or 沒 is placed before a verb, it funcutions as ‘not’ and ‘have not’ respectively.

Examples:

> 看 = to see
>
> 不看 = not to see

~

> 有看 = have seen
>
> 沒看 = have not seen


---

