Mandarin · Chapter 20 · Lesson 12 · Grammar primer
Figurative directional complements
起来, 下去 and 出来 beyond literal up, down and out: 想起来 (call to mind), 说下去 (carry on speaking), 看出来 (figure out). The same direction words mark the start, continuation or emergence of a state once the motion sense is left behind.
The short version
起来 (qǐ lái) starts it, 下去 (xià qù) keeps it going
Once the directionals turn metaphorical, up means the action springs into being and downstream means it carries on. 他唱起来了 (tā chàng qǐ lái le) is the moment he broke into song; 他唱下去了 (tā chàng xià qù le) is him not stopping. Learners over-apply 起来 (qǐ lái) and use it where they mean 'carry on'.
他唱起来了 tā chàng qǐ lái le
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