Result Complement 2: Verb + 到/住/走
结果补语2：动词+到/住/走
Express the result of an action using the complements 到, 住, and 走
Attach 到, 住, or 走 directly after a verb to indicate the result of the action. 到 means the action successfully reached its target. 住 means the action held or secured something. 走 means the action caused something to leave or be taken away.
到 implies successful attainment ("managed to"). 住 implies holding, stopping, or stabilizing ("held on to"). 走 implies departure or removal ("away"). Negation uses 没 for past: 没买到, 没接住.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Result Complement 2: Verb + 到/住/走 (结果补语2：动词+到/住/走)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 结果补语2：动词+到/住/走 pattern
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Understanding 结果补语2：动词+到/住/走
Result complements are one of the most distinctive features of Chinese grammar. At this level, you are expanding your toolkit with three new result complements: 到, 住, and 走. Think of 到 as "mission accomplished" — 买到 means you successfully bought something after trying. 住 is like "locked in place" — 记住 means you memorized something and it stuck, 接住 means you caught something and held on. 走 means "gone away" — 拿走 means someone took something away, 走 emphasizes departure. These complements pack a lot of meaning into very compact phrases. Without them, you would need much longer sentences to express the same ideas. They are used constantly in spoken Chinese, so mastering them is essential for natural communication.
Key Points
- 到 = successfully reached/achieved: 买到 (managed to buy), 找到 (found), 看到 (saw/spotted).
- 住 = held/secured/stabilized: 记住 (memorized), 接住 (caught and held), 站住 (stopped/stood still).
- 走 = away/departed: 拿走 (took away), 带走 (brought away), 赶走 (chased away).
- Negation: 没 + verb + result complement — 没买到 (did not manage to buy).
- These complements cannot be separated from the verb — they form a unit.
- With 把 sentences: 他把书拿走了 (He took the book away).
In Chinese shopping culture, 买到 (managed to buy) versus 没买到 (could not buy) is very commonly heard, especially during sales events or when popular items sell out quickly. The complement 到 captures the effort and success of obtaining something.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
他终于买到火车票了。
He finally managed to buy a train ticket.
到 = successfully obtained
我把球传给他，可是他没接住。
I passed the ball to him, but he did not catch it.
住 = held/caught securely
那本书他取走了吗？
Did he take that book away?
走 = taken away
这个单词你记住了吗？
Did you memorize this word?
我在网上找到了一家很好的饭馆。
I found a great restaurant online.
风把我的帽子吹走了。
The wind blew my hat away.
站住！别跑！
Stop! Do not run!
住 = hold position / stop
你能不能帮我拿走这些箱子？
Can you help me take these boxes away?
Common Mistakes
The result complement 到 attaches directly to the verb. 了 comes after the complement, not between the verb and complement.
For memorizing, use 住 (held in memory), not 到. 记到 is not a standard combination.
住 means "secured in place" — the opposite of what wind does. Use 走 (away) for things blown away.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Think of 到 as a "success stamp" — it means the action achieved its goal: 买到, 找到, 看到.
Think of 住 as "glue" — it means something is fixed in place: 记住 (stuck in memory), 接住 (caught and held), 站住 (stopped moving).
Think of 走 as an "exit sign" — it means gone/away: 拿走, 带走, 吹走.
When you are not sure which complement to use, ask: Did the action succeed (到)? Hold something (住)? Remove something (走)?
Homework
Write nine sentences — three using 到 (things you managed to find, buy, or see), three using 住 (things you remembered, caught, or held), and three using 走 (things that were taken away or left). Use both affirmative and negative forms.