得
Pattern
Verb / adjective + 得 + result clause
Key words
Core idea
得 can introduce a result or consequence after a verb or adjective.
The meaning is often “so... that...”
How it works
The first part names the degree or action. The part after 得 tells what result it causes.
This is common with adjectives such as tired, busy, hot, happy, or scared.
Compare with degree complements
Some 得 complements describe how well an action is done. This pattern focuses more on consequence: the first state is strong enough to cause the second part.
Examples
他忙得没时间吃饭。
Tā máng de méi shíjiān chīfàn.
He is so busy that he has no time to eat.
我累得不想说话。
Wǒ lèi de bù xiǎng shuōhuà.
I am so tired that I do not want to talk.
天气热得大家都不想出门。
Tiānqì rè de dàjiā dōu bù xiǎng chūmén.
The weather is so hot that everyone does not want to go out.
Common mistakes
Avoid
我累不想说话得。
Use
我累得不想说话。
得 comes right after the verb or adjective that causes the result.
Seen in stories
The Accidental Livestream
赵明紧张得连麦克风都忘了关。
Zhao Ming was so nervous that he even forgot to turn off the microphone.
The Accidental Livestream
通过这次乌龙，他们意识到所谓的应急流程写得不够清楚。
Through this mishap, they realized that the so-called emergency procedure had not been written clearly enough.
The Wrong Locker Code
没想到十分钟后，一个男孩抱着猫跑来，说猫已经等得不耐烦了。
Unexpectedly, ten minutes later, a boy ran over holding a cat and said the cat had already waited itself impatient.