<blockquote>
<p>我穷[<strong>得</strong>]一天只吃[<strong>得</strong>]起一顿饭。</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>I was poor [<strong>to the point of</strong>] I [<strong>could</strong>] only afford to eat one meal a day</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><p>The first <strong>得</strong> is placed after an adjective, which means it is a degree/ result particle that indicates [Adj + <strong>to the point of</strong> + degree/ result]</p>
</li>
<li><p>The second <strong>得</strong> is a potential particle. There are only two potential particles. They are &quot;得 (can)&quot; and &quot;不(cannot)&quot;</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>吃[<strong>得</strong>]起一顿饭 = [<strong>can</strong>] afford to eat one meal</p>
<p>吃[<strong>不</strong>]起一顿饭 = [<strong>cannot</strong>] afford to eat one meal</p>
<p><em>&quot;我穷[得]一天吃[不]起一顿饭。&quot; would mean: &quot;I was poor to the point of couldn't afford to eat one meal a day&quot; (maybe one meal every two day?)</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-17T18:35:58.173Z
Thank you very much. I appreciate your help. I have to more learn.
robert
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-12T14:41:55.227Z
2023-02-12T14:50:45.920Z
2023-02-12T14:50:45.920Z
Tang Ho
<p>Can someone explain how I can translate the second part of the sentence? I don't understand the meaning of 得 and 得起。 Thank you。</p>

<grammar><meaning>
得 in sentence 没有工作的那段时间，我穷得一天只吃得起一顿饭。
# 得 in sentence 没有工作的那段时间，我穷得一天只吃得起一顿饭。

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-02-12)

Can someone explain how I can translate the second part of the sentence? I don't understand the meaning of 得 and 得起。 Thank you。

**Tags:** grammar, meaning


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-02-12. Score: 2

> 我穷[**得**]一天只吃[**得**]起一顿饭。

> I was poor [**to the point of**] I [**could**] only afford to eat one meal a day

* The first **得** is placed after an adjective, which means it is a degree/ result particle that indicates [Adj + **to the point of** + degree/ result]
* The second **得** is a potential particle. There are only two potential particles. They are "得 (can)" and "不(cannot)"

吃[**得**]起一顿饭 = [**can**] afford to eat one meal

吃[**不**]起一顿饭 = [**cannot**] afford to eat one meal

*"我穷[得]一天吃[不]起一顿饭。" would mean: "I was poor to the point of couldn't afford to eat one meal a day" (maybe one meal every two day?)*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you very much. I appreciate your help. I have to more learn.  

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