<p>到 is a result complement. 买到 is the shorthand of 买得到.</p>

<p>Sematically, 买到这本书 means you buy and get the book.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-02T10:02:40.477Z
2018-10-02T10:02:40.477Z
dan
<p>「到」(literally <em>to arrive</em>) is a verb complement to show whether an action has or can be completed (“arrived at the finished state”).</p>

<p>Since「到」is not actually necessary in this sentence to express the same meaning, it is easier to demonstrate the meaning of「到」with a complementary sentence:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>那裏<strong>買不到</strong>正版的這本書</p>
  
  <p>The proper version of this book <strong>can’t be bought</strong> there.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>X「到」means the action X can be completed, X「不到」means it cannot be completed.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-02T10:42:57.570Z
This is sometimes referred to as a Resultative Verb (结果补语词) where 到 is, as you mentioned, the result.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-03T19:36:03.703Z
Slight inaccuracy at the end: 〔X到〕 means that the result **is** completed (a resultative complement). Conversely, 〔X得到〕 means that the result **can be** (but is not necessarily) completed (a potential complement).
Janus Bahs Jacquet
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-02T10:01:32.360Z
2018-10-02T10:01:32.360Z
dROOOze
<p>What does 到 mean in this sentence :</p>

<p>哪里可以买到正版的这本书？</p>

<p>Does 买到 here serve as a verb-object word? I doubt it though.</p>

<meaning-in-context>
What does 到 mean in 哪里可以买到正版的这本书? Does 买到 here serve as a verb-object word?
# What does 到 mean in 哪里可以买到正版的这本书? Does 买到 here serve as a verb-object word?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-02)

What does 到 mean in this sentence :

哪里可以买到正版的这本书？

Does 买到 here serve as a verb-object word? I doubt it though.

**Tags:** meaning-in-context


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-10-02. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

「到」(literally *to arrive*) is a verb complement to show whether an action has or can be completed (“arrived at the finished state”).

Since「到」is not actually necessary in this sentence to express the same meaning, it is easier to demonstrate the meaning of「到」with a complementary sentence:

> 那裏**買不到**正版的這本書
>
> The proper version of this book **can’t be bought** there.

X「到」means the action X can be completed, X「不到」means it cannot be completed.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This is sometimes referred to as a Resultative Verb (结果补语词) where 到 is, as you mentioned, the result.  
> **username_4**: Slight inaccuracy at the end: 〔X到〕 means that the result **is** completed (a resultative complement). Conversely, 〔X得到〕 means that the result **can be** (but is not necessarily) completed (a potential complement).  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2018-10-02. Score: 2

到 is a result complement. 买到 is the shorthand of 买得到.

Sematically, 买到这本书 means you buy and get the book.


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