<p>掉 and 了 can be used as verb or adverb.</p>

<p>掉 <em>(verb)</em> means drop or fall.</p>

<p>了 <em>(verb) [pronounced as liao]</em> means finish or understand, but it is rarely used in speaking.</p>

<p>掉 <em>(adverb)</em> is used to show the result of the verb, eg. 吃掉 (show result, ate it).</p>

<p>了 <em>(adverb) [pronounced as le]</em> means already. In grammar of English Language can be interpreted as perfect tense. Eg. 吃了 (has eaten).</p>

<p>Thus, 掉了 in Chinese can be interpreted as <code>has fallen</code>.</p>

<p><em>P/S: In fact, these explanations are not enough to explain all situations because these two words have a lot usage.</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-17T13:43:13.020Z
2013-12-17T13:43:13.020Z
Ah Kuan
<p>When 掉 is used as a verb complement (not a verb), it indicates that something disappears, is removed, is disposed of, etc. as the result of an action. Not really "falling" or "missing".</p>

<p>Some examples:</p>

<p>擦不掉：Something can't be <strong>removed</strong> or <strong>got rid of</strong> by rubbing or wiping. Maybe it's a stain on your shoes, and you're trying to rub it off with a cloth, but it can't be wiped away.</p>

<p>吃掉：To "eat something up". All of it is gone.</p>

<p>卖掉房子：To sell your house. After you sell it, it's gone. It's off your hands now.</p>

<p>忘掉：To forget something. After you forget it, it's gone from your memory.</p>

<p>忘不掉：To not be able to forget something, to be unforgettable.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-19T06:50:46.180Z
Yes, absolutely!
Alex D
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-18T09:44:34.927Z
2013-12-18T09:52:00.407Z
2013-12-18T09:52:00.407Z
Alex D
<p>I am referring to the usage as defined on zdic.net</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>用在动词后表示动作完成：改～。戒～</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Does 掉 often have the connotation of falling or missing？
What is the difference between (verb)掉 and （verb)了 and（verb）掉了？</p>

<p>I've heard this in the negative （擦不掉）。 How does that differ from（verb）不了？</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-19T07:26:03.710Z
Strangely enough, when I try to make phrase like "钓掉", my preference seems to be "钓走", as it is easier to pronounce. And I think it is necessary to account for the difference of 走 and 掉。
Joseph S WU
<grammar><particles>
How to properly use 掉？
# How to properly use 掉？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-17)

I am referring to the usage as defined on zdic.net

> 用在动词后表示动作完成：改～。戒～

Does 掉 often have the connotation of falling or missing？
What is the difference between (verb)掉 and （verb)了 and（verb）掉了？

I've heard this in the negative （擦不掉）。 How does that differ from（verb）不了？

**Tags:** grammar, particles

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Strangely enough, when I try to make phrase like "钓掉", my preference seems to be "钓走", as it is easier to pronounce. And I think it is necessary to account for the difference of 走 and 掉。  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-12-18. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

When 掉 is used as a verb complement (not a verb), it indicates that something disappears, is removed, is disposed of, etc. as the result of an action. Not really "falling" or "missing".

Some examples:

擦不掉：Something can't be **removed** or **got rid of** by rubbing or wiping. Maybe it's a stain on your shoes, and you're trying to rub it off with a cloth, but it can't be wiped away.

吃掉：To "eat something up". All of it is gone.

卖掉房子：To sell your house. After you sell it, it's gone. It's off your hands now.

忘掉：To forget something. After you forget it, it's gone from your memory.

忘不掉：To not be able to forget something, to be unforgettable.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Yes, absolutely!  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-12-17. Score: 1

掉 and 了 can be used as verb or adverb.

掉 *(verb)* means drop or fall.

了 *(verb) [pronounced as liao]* means finish or understand, but it is rarely used in speaking.

掉 *(adverb)* is used to show the result of the verb, eg. 吃掉 (show result, ate it).

了 *(adverb) [pronounced as le]* means already. In grammar of English Language can be interpreted as perfect tense. Eg. 吃了 (has eaten).

Thus, 掉了 in Chinese can be interpreted as `has fallen`.

*P/S: In fact, these explanations are not enough to explain all situations because these two words have a lot usage.*


---

