Expressing the complement of state with 个
The state complement (状态补语) answers the question “how?” and describes an achieved state of an action.
The complement of state can be formed using a verb followed by 个 
.
.
Pay attention
The particle 得 is not used in this case.
is not used in this case.
The negative determiners 不 and 没 and the complement of result are placed after 个.
and 没 and the complement of result are placed after 个.
Pay attention
The complement of result can be either a verb or an adjective, and describes the result of an action.
Scheme
verb
个
不/没
complement
Examples
小孩还是哭个不停，不知道怎么办
The child is still crying without stopping. I don’t know what to do
xiǎo hái háishi kū ge bù tíng, bù zhīdao zěnme bàn
他说个没完，别人一句话也插不进
He is talking nonstop. Others can’t get a word in
tā shuō ge méi wán, bié rén yí jù huà yě chābujìn
米山很幽默，他一开始说话，大家就会笑个不停
Misha is a funny boy. As soon as he starts talking, everybody begins to laugh nonstop
mǐshān hěn yōumò, tā yì kāishǐ shuōhuà, dàjiā jiù huì xiào ge bù tíng
The complement of state with 个 is also used to indicate that an action needs to be performed well and to completion.
Pay attention
个 followed by the complement of result can be replaced with an adverb.
Examples
逛就逛个够，不用以后跟我说我没有让你休息
If you go for a walk, enjoy your walk. Butdon’t say afterwards that I didn’t let you have a rest
guàng jiù guàng ge gòu, bú yòng yǐhòu gēn wǒ shuō wǒ méi yǒu ràng nǐ xiūxi
吃就吃个够，我们客人吃不饱不回家
If you’re goign to eat, you’re going to eat a lot. Our guests don’t leave our house hungry
chī jiù chī ge gòu, wǒmen kèrén chībubǎo bù huí jiā
要学就学个踏实, 要玩就玩个痛快
If you’re studying, study hard. If you’re having fun, enjoy it
yào xué jiù xué ge tàshi, yào wán jiù wán ge tòngkuai