Usage of 出来

[alayeer]

Hi everybody! I've come across a problem regarding the usage of 出来. I know that V+出来 can be used to show that we figure out something, like 想出来 means I managed to produce something (be it idea or answer) after thinking. However the more I read about other examples, the more I get confused. Especially the difference between V+不出来 and 没+V+出来.

For example, 

1.他看出来我是美国人。(CMIIW, I think it means he figured out [by looking] that I am American).

2.他看得出来我是美国人。He can figure out that I am American. But, I'm not sure when I'm supposed to use this one. Isn't this just like no.1? You figured me out, because you could.)

3.他看不出来我是美国人。(He's not able to tell that I am American, because he probably isn't familiar with American before, or simply can't tell.)

4.他没看出来我是美国人。(He didn't figure out that I am American. But it's supposed to be the same with no.3 right? You failed to figure out because you are not able to do it.)

Can anyone help me to point out some major differences between the sentences and on what condition can I use those sentences? Thank you so much!

[Tiana]

Ok, I'll use your examples so that it'll be easier for you to concentrate on what you need to know:

 

A. Your sent1 and sent4 are the opposite of each other (As you already know, they're a positive and negative pair). You use V+ 出来 to simply describe an action, a state or situation :

1.他看出来我是美国人: He figured out...

4.他没看出来我是美国人: He didn't figure out...

Now, contrast the above explanation with the following.

 

B. Your sent2 and sent3 are the opposite of each other (Just as in A above, they're a positive and negative pair). You use V+ 得出来 to describe a potential of/ an ability for an action, a state or situation. but in contrast to A above, it's not necessarily yet an actual state or situation:

2.他看得出来我是美国人: He can figure out...

3.他看不出来我是美国人: He can't figure out...

 

What is important to remember from the above is Sent1 pairs with Sent4, and Sent2 with Sent3. If you mix them up, then you'd come out with the wrong result

 

I hope the simple explanation helps, but if not ask again.

[Yorin]

Sentences 1 2 and 3 are about the general ability or inability to do something, sentences 2  1 and 4 are about the actual situation.

 

My car can go over 100 mph. < > My car did go over 100 mph.

My car can't go over 100 mph. < > My car didn't go over 100 mph.

 

I think you can see the difference in meaning?

[Angelina]

Remember this: 看不出来 is the negation of 看得出来, while 没看出来 is the negation of 看出来。

[Tiana]

Sentences 1 and 3 are about the general ability or inability to do something, sentences 2 and 4 are about the actual situation.

 

I think Yorin mixed up the sentences' numbers, and this makes the post appear to contradict what is said in Angelina's and my post. 

[dwq]

You said: "But, I'm not sure when I'm supposed to use [no.2]. Isn't this just like no.1? You figured me out, because you could."

Consider this sentence.

他拿得起這件10公斤的行李。 He can pick up this 10kg piece of cargo.

Here you're just saying "He CAN do something", there is no information whether he DID do it or not, to be precise. Perhaps he looks strong and fit and thus you believe so.

However, in the case of 他看得出来我是美国人, the most probable way that you know that he CAN, is because he DID demonstrate this ability by 他看出来我是美国人, thus the confusion.

Knowing this, we can try to construct another situation using 看得出来 where you can see a difference.

我相信他看得出来誰是兇手。 I believe he can figure out who is the murderer.

He might or might not have figured it out yet, but you believe in his ability, perhaps because he is a famous detective.

我相信他看出来誰是兇手。 I believe he figured out who is the murderer.

Because he's giving you the same smirk that he did in the last 10 cases when he figured out the murderer.

[Angelina]

OP Read more about it here, especially on the difference between 不出来 and 不出.

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/47883-complements-used-with-sensory-verbs-other-than-看-and-听/

[Yorin]

 

I think Yorin mixed up the sentences' numbers, and this makes the post appear to contradict what is said in Angelina's and my post.

 

  Thanks, fixed.

[arreke]

1.他看出来我是美国人: He figured out...

3.他看不出来我是美国人: He can't figure out...

 

Totally agree with Tiana, following are some video examples from the movies, where we can see how these expressions can be used in real life :

 

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/kE3VZMkbsg8/

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/624E3gkxY3M/

 

PS: Is there a way to embed videos on this forum?

Posting the links of the videos is so outdated, whilst most modern forums nowadays support video embedding.