掉 vs 走 (diào vs zǒu): removal vs departure in resultative complements
掉 and 走 both serve as resultative complements in Chinese, but they convey different outcomes. 掉 indicates removal, elimination, or disposal, often leaving the object behind or destroying it. 走 indicates that something or someone moves away from a location, typically by walking or being carried. The key distinction is whether the object is simply removed (掉) or physically taken away (走).
Both 掉 (diào) and 走 (zǒu) are used as resultative complements to indicate the outcome of an action. 掉 focuses on the removal, erasure, or disposal of an object, often implying that the object is no longer present or needed, but not necessarily that it moves away. 走 emphasizes that the object or person physically leaves the current location, either by moving on their own or being taken by someone. Understanding this fundamental difference helps you choose the correct complement for verbs like 拿, 带, 擦, 扔, etc.
When to use each
Use 掉 when the result is the removal, elimination, or disposal of something. The object may be discarded, erased, cleaned off, or left behind — it does not necessarily move away. Common with verbs like 擦 (wipe), 洗 (wash), 扔 (throw), 删 (delete), 杀 (kill), and 忘 (forget). For example, 擦掉 means 'wipe off' (remove dirt from a surface), 扔掉 means 'throw away' (discard).
掉 can also be used metaphorically, e.g., 忘掉 (forget), where the memory is 'removed' from the mind, or 死掉 (die), where the person is 'eliminated' from life.
Use 走 when the result is that someone or something moves away from the current location, either by walking or being carried. It implies departure or relocation. Common with verbs like 拿 (take), 带 (bring), 搬 (move), 逃 (flee), 溜 (slip away), and 跑 (run). For example, 带走 means 'take away' (carry someone/something away with you), 逃走 means 'flee away' (escape). The object typically leaves the place.
走 can also mean 'pass away' (他走了) in euphemistic contexts, but as a complement it strictly indicates physical movement away.
At a glance
| 掉 | 走 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Removal, elimination, or disposal | Departure or movement away |
| Does the object leave the location? | Not necessarily; object may remain but be discarded or cleaned off | Yes, object (or person) physically leaves the location |
| Typical verbs | 擦 (wipe), 洗 (wash), 扔 (throw), 删 (delete), 杀 (kill), 忘 (forget) | 拿 (take), 带 (bring), 搬 (move), 逃 (flee), 赶 (drive away) |
| Commonly used for cleaning? | Yes: 擦掉, 洗掉, 扫掉 (sweep away) | No: 走 is not used for cleaning, only for moving away |
| Can be used with people? | Yes, but often in a dismissive sense (e.g., 把他撤掉 'remove him from position') | Yes, naturally (e.g., 把他带走 'take him away') |
Examples
- 掉请把黑板上的字擦掉。Qǐng bǎ hēibǎn shàng de zì cā diào.Please wipe off the words on the blackboard.The words are removed (wiped off), but they don't 'leave' — they are erased on the spot.
- 掉我把垃圾扔掉了。Wǒ bǎ lājī rēng diào le.I threw away the trash.Trash is discarded; it may be taken away by someone else, but the complement focuses on disposal.
- 走他拿走了我的书。Tā ná zǒu le wǒ de shū.He took my book away.The book physically moves away with him.
- 走小偷逃走了。Xiǎotōu táo zǒu le.The thief fled away.The thief departs from the location.
- 走他把我手机带走了。Tā bǎ wǒ shǒujī dài zǒu le.He took my phone away.The phone is carried away with him.
- 掉他把杯子拿掉了，但没拿走。Tā bǎ bēizi ná diào le, dàn méi ná zǒu.He removed the cup but didn't take it away.Contrast: 拿掉 just removes the cup from its place, while 拿走 would imply carrying it away.
Common mistakes
- Using 走 for cleaning actions: '擦走桌子' should be '擦掉桌子' (wipe off the table) or '擦掉桌上的灰尘'.
- Using 掉 when someone is taken away: '他把我带掉了' is unnatural; use '他把我带走了'.
- Saying '删走文件' for deleting files; correct is '删掉文件' because deletion removes the file without physical movement.
- Using 走 with 忘: '忘走' is incorrect; the expression is '忘掉' (forget).
- Confusing 去掉 (remove/get rid of) with '去走' (not a standard expression; use 带走 for 'take away').
FAQ
- When do I use 拿走 vs 拿掉?
- Use 拿走 when you take something away with you (the object leaves the place). Use 拿掉 when you remove something from its position but do not necessarily carry it away — e.g., take a cup off a shelf and leave it on the counter.
- Can 掉 be used for people leaving?
- Rarely in the sense of physical departure. 掉 with people usually means dismissal (e.g., 把他撤掉 'remove him from his post') or death (死掉 'die'). For 'someone leaving', use 走 (他走了 'he left').
- What's the difference between 擦掉 and 擦走?
- 擦掉 means 'wipe off' (e.g., clean a stain from a surface). 擦走 is not standard; if something is wiped away and then removed, you would still use 擦掉. For physically moving a wiped object, you would say 拿开 or 带走.