HSK 7
状态补语3：“个”引导的补语
zhuàng tài bǔ yǔ 3 ： “ gè ” yǐn dǎo de bǔ yǔ
State complement 3: Complement introduced by '个'
Explanation
This is a state complement (a component after the verb that indicates the state of the action) introduced by 个 (ge), used to emphasize an action that continues on and on without stopping, carrying an expressive, sometimes exaggerated tone.
verb + 个 (ge) + 不停 (bù tíng – nonstop) / 没完 (méi wán – endless) / 没够 (méi gòu – never enough)...; e.g. 哭个不停 (cry nonstop), 说个没完 (talk endlessly).
when describing an action that keeps going on persistently, usually with a complaining or exaggerating tone. Very common in spoken language.
个 (ge) here is a particle (a function word added to express a grammatical meaning), not a measure word (a word indicating a counting unit like 'piece, animal'); it does not count quantity but merely links the verb to the complement indicating degree/state.
do not add a numeral before 个 (do not say 哭一个不停); and what follows 个 must be a phrase indicating continuity (不停/没完), not a noun.
Examples
That little girl cried nonstop, saying she couldn't find her mother anymore.
He went on talking endlessly right in front of us.
Practice
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Learn “状态补语3：“个”引导的补语” effectively
The grammar point “状态补语3：“个”引导的补语” (State complement 3: Complement introduced by '个') is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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