<p>The differences are contextual. I do agree it is very subtle. </p>

<p>到 is used when the verb, (action), produces a response from a purely physical perspective. Whereas, 了 is from a non-physical moral, legal, ethical standpoint.  </p>

<p>So, in 收不到 vs 收不了, the former connotes the physical impossibility of receiving whatever is sent, perhaps it was physically destroyed in an air accident; hence 不到, (physically not arrive) The latter connotes the non-physical inability or refusal to accept for some moral, legal, ethical reason; perhaps it was seen as a corrupt bribe, hence 不了, (can't)</p>

<p>Here is an example to illustrate the point further:-</p>

<p>(a) 起不了 vs (b) 了不起   </p>

<p>The former is physically impossible to rise up.</p>

<p>The latter means something amazing or superlative. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-23T03:48:09.807Z
2020-01-23T03:48:09.807Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>This question focuses on the differences between 了and 到.</p>

<ol>
<li>What's the difference between verb + 不了 and verb + 不到?</li>
<li>Do the differences also apply to Cantonese?</li>
</ol>

<p>Examples:</p>

<ul>
<li>收不到 vs 收不了</li>
<li>幫不到 vs 幫不了</li>
<li>來不到 vs 來不了</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-24T06:08:41.657Z
[“不了”“不起”“不到”的区别](http://www.cim.chinesecio.com/hbcms/f/article/info?id=7ff26b3ac39b4832819d7c47c78cd12f) This could help answer your question.
user8314628
<translation><grammar><mandarin><cantonese>
Difference between 不了 and 不到
# Difference between 不了 and 不到

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-22)

This question focuses on the differences between 了and 到.

1. What's the difference between verb + 不了 and verb + 不到?
2. Do the differences also apply to Cantonese?

Examples:

* 收不到 vs 收不了
* 幫不到 vs 幫不了
* 來不到 vs 來不了

**Tags:** translation, grammar, mandarin, cantonese

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [“不了”“不起”“不到”的区别](http://www.cim.chinesecio.com/hbcms/f/article/info?id=7ff26b3ac39b4832819d7c47c78cd12f) This could help answer your question.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-01-23. Score: 3

The differences are contextual. I do agree it is very subtle.

到 is used when the verb, (action), produces a response from a purely physical perspective. Whereas, 了 is from a non-physical moral, legal, ethical standpoint.

So, in 收不到 vs 收不了, the former connotes the physical impossibility of receiving whatever is sent, perhaps it was physically destroyed in an air accident; hence 不到, (physically not arrive) The latter connotes the non-physical inability or refusal to accept for some moral, legal, ethical reason; perhaps it was seen as a corrupt bribe, hence 不了, (can't)

Here is an example to illustrate the point further:-

(a) 起不了 vs (b) 了不起

The former is physically impossible to rise up.

The latter means something amazing or superlative.


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