Mandarin · Chapter 20 · Lesson 9 · 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.

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