Definition
得不到 is the negative potential complement of 得到 ('to get, to obtain'). It follows the pattern 'V + 不 + resultative complement' and means 'cannot get' or 'unable to obtain'. It is a fixed structure where 得 (the verb) and 到 (the complement) are split by 不 to express impossibility. You can use it with any object, but the verb–complement pair cannot be separated further.
r.v.
cannot getcannot obtaincannot achieve
Examples
- ，得不到得不到。Tā nǔlì le hěn jiǔ, què zǒng shì dé bù dàodé bù dào xiǎng yào de jiéguǒ.He worked hard for a long time, but he just can't get the results he wants.
- ，得不到得不到。Zài zhège hángyè, dé bù dàodé bù dào tóngháng de rènkě hěn nán lìzú.In this industry, it's hard to survive without getting recognition from peers.
- ，得不到得不到。Zài tuōyán xiàqù, nǐ jiù dé bù dàodé bù dào zhè cì jīhuì le.If you keep procrastinating, you won't get this opportunity.
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