<p><code>得起</code> and <code>不起</code> is part of common expression in Chinese for can/cannot afford.</p>
<p>If you broke characters, <code>起</code> generally means to support, to lift. So the express literally translates into you are able to support(lift)/ you cannot support(lift).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-13T03:26:36.340Z
2020-10-13T03:26:36.340Z
moiaussi06
<p>In China, we more of use this as a fixed phrase for (cannot) afford. For example, we would use 吃不起 or 用不起 or 买不起 to show that we cannot afford to eat/use/buy something. The simple logic is this:</p>
<p>-得起 means that you can afford to do an action</p>
<p>-不起 means that you cannot afford to do an action</p>
<p>This is probably a fixed phrase you need to memorize.</p>
<p>P.S. When we use -得起 or -不起, we do not necessarily mean afford in the monetary context. For example, we can say 我承担不起这个后果 to mean &quot;I cannot bear (承担) this consequence (后果)&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-12T13:09:49.467Z
2020-10-12T13:09:49.467Z
Ivan Yuan
<p>Among <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Potential_complement" rel="nofollow noreferrer">potential complements</a> are <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_potential_complements#Verbs_with_-.E4.B8.8D.E8.B5.B7_and_-.E5.BE.97.E8.B5.B7" rel="nofollow noreferrer">some ending with 得起</a>.  Some examples (from <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_potential_complements#Verbs_with_-.E4.B8.8D.E8.B5.B7_and_-.E5.BE.97.E8.B5.B7" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://www.lingolearn.com/learn-languages/learn-chinese/chinese-words-for-unable-to-and-able-to-%E4%B8%8D%E8%B5%B7buqi-and-%E5%BE%97%E8%B5%B7deqi/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>) are:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>这家餐厅太贵了，我们<strong>吃不起</strong>。<br />
This restaurant is too expensive. We <strong>can't afford</strong> to eat here.</p>
<p>我们<strong>吃得起</strong>龙虾。<br />
We <strong>can afford</strong> lobster.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>这些化妆品很贵，我<strong>用不起</strong>。<br />
This makeup is very expensive. I <strong>can't afford</strong> it.</p>
<p>我们<strong>用得起</strong>电。<br />
We <strong>can afford</strong> electricity.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Chinese Zero To Hero YouTube video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogsqRcpQeIU" rel="nofollow noreferrer">动词+得/不+起</a> gives an idea of the conversion: basically, 不能[verb] = [verb]不起 and 能[verb] = [verb]得起.  But then 吃不起 should mean 不能吃 = &quot;I can't eat [something]&quot; and 吃得起 should mean 能吃 = &quot;I can eat [something]&quot; (and likewise for 用).  So I'm not following the logic here.</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: How do 用不起 / 用得起 and 吃不起 / 吃得起 mean (un)affordable?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-12T09:16:16.647Z
Although both 不能 and  不起 are negative, they are not equivalent. 不能 is cannot; 不起 is, as you have pointed out, cannot afford. Cannot is not the same as cannot afford.
joehua
<meaning><complement>
How do 用不起 / 用得起 and 吃不起 / 吃得起 mean (un)affordable?
# How do 用不起 / 用得起 and 吃不起 / 吃得起 mean (un)affordable?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-12)

Among [potential complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Potential_complement) are [some ending with 得起](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_potential_complements#Verbs_with_-.E4.B8.8D.E8.B5.B7_and_-.E5.BE.97.E8.B5.B7). Some examples (from [here](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_potential_complements#Verbs_with_-.E4.B8.8D.E8.B5.B7_and_-.E5.BE.97.E8.B5.B7) and [here](https://www.lingolearn.com/learn-languages/learn-chinese/chinese-words-for-unable-to-and-able-to-%E4%B8%8D%E8%B5%B7buqi-and-%E5%BE%97%E8%B5%B7deqi/)) are:

> 这家餐厅太贵了，我们**吃不起**。  
> This restaurant is too expensive. We **can't afford** to eat here.
>
> 我们**吃得起**龙虾。  
> We **can afford** lobster.

> 这些化妆品很贵，我**用不起**。  
> This makeup is very expensive. I **can't afford** it.
>
> 我们**用得起**电。  
> We **can afford** electricity.

The Chinese Zero To Hero YouTube video [动词+得/不+起](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogsqRcpQeIU) gives an idea of the conversion: basically, 不能[verb] = [verb]不起 and 能[verb] = [verb]得起. But then 吃不起 should mean 不能吃 = "I can't eat [something]" and 吃得起 should mean 能吃 = "I can eat [something]" (and likewise for 用). So I'm not following the logic here.

**Question**: How do 用不起 / 用得起 and 吃不起 / 吃得起 mean (un)affordable?

**Tags:** meaning, complement

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Although both 不能 and  不起 are negative, they are not equivalent. 不能 is cannot; 不起 is, as you have pointed out, cannot afford. Cannot is not the same as cannot afford.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-10-12. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

In China, we more of use this as a fixed phrase for (cannot) afford. For example, we would use 吃不起 or 用不起 or 买不起 to show that we cannot afford to eat/use/buy something. The simple logic is this:

-得起 means that you can afford to do an action

-不起 means that you cannot afford to do an action

This is probably a fixed phrase you need to memorize.

P.S. When we use -得起 or -不起, we do not necessarily mean afford in the monetary context. For example, we can say 我承担不起这个后果 to mean "I cannot bear (承担) this consequence (后果)".


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-10-13. Score: 0

`得起` and `不起` is part of common expression in Chinese for can/cannot afford.

If you broke characters, `起` generally means to support, to lift. So the express literally translates into you are able to support(lift)/ you cannot support(lift).


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