Definition
“用不完” is a verb-resultative complement structure combining 用 (to use) and 不完 (not to the point of finishing). It means “cannot finish using” or “more than can be used up,” emphasizing that the resource (money, food, time, etc.) is in excess of the user’s capacity to consume it. The negation is on the result 完, not on the action 用; compare with 吃不完 and 看不完 (same pattern). HSK 7 learners should recognize this as a productive pattern (V + 不完). Note: the correct pronunciation is yòng bù wán (not yòng bú).
r.v.
cannot be used up / cannot finish using (of resources or supplies)
Examples
- 用不完。Zhèxiē qián wǒ yòng bú.I can't use up all this money.
- ，用不完。Shíwù tài duō le, wǒmen yòng bú.There's too much food; we can't finish it.
- 用不完。Zhè zhāng shǒujī kǎ lǐ de qián yòng bú.The credit on this phone card can never be used up.
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