[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":839},["ShallowReactive",2],{"i-lucide:chevron-down":3,"i-lucide:type":8,"i-lucide:layers":10,"i-lucide:menu":12,"i-lucide:house":14,"i-lucide:chevron-right":16,"i-lucide:list-ordered":18,"i-lucide:book-open":20,"i-lucide:library-big":22,"i-lucide:book-open-text":24,"i-lucide:graduation-cap":26,"i-lucide:languages":28,"i-lucide:gamepad-2":30,"i-lucide:presentation":32,"i-simple-icons:mastodon":34,"i-simple-icons:bluesky":36,"i-simple-icons:x":38,"i-simple-icons:linkedin":40,"grammar-mandarin-directional-complements-figurative":43,"grammar-verbs-mandarin-directional-complements-figurative":830,"i-lucide:download":831,"i-lucide:pencil-line":833,"i-lucide:image":835,"i-lucide:file-text":837},{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":7},0,24,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"m6 9l6 6l6-6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":9},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 4v16M4 7V5a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h14a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v2M9 20h6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":11},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M12.83 2.18a2 2 0 0 0-1.66 0L2.6 6.08a1 1 0 0 0 0 1.83l8.58 3.91a2 2 0 0 0 1.66 0l8.58-3.9a1 1 0 0 0 0-1.83z\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M2 12a1 1 0 0 0 .58.91l8.6 3.91a2 2 0 0 0 1.65 0l8.58-3.9A1 1 0 0 0 22 12\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M2 17a1 1 0 0 0 .58.91l8.6 3.91a2 2 0 0 0 1.65 0l8.58-3.9A1 1 0 0 0 22 17\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":13},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M4 5h16M4 12h16M4 19h16\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":15},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M15 21v-8a1 1 0 0 0-1-1h-4a1 1 0 0 0-1 1v8\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M3 10a2 2 0 0 1 .709-1.528l7-6a2 2 0 0 1 2.582 0l7 6A2 2 0 0 1 21 10v9a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2z\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":17},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"m9 18l6-6l-6-6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":19},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M11 5h10m-10 7h10m-10 7h10M4 4h1v5M4 9h2m.5 11H3.4c0-1 2.6-1.925 2.6-3.5a1.5 1.5 0 0 0-2.6-1.02\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":21},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 7v14m-9-3a1 1 0 0 1-1-1V4a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h5a4 4 0 0 1 4 4a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h5a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v13a1 1 0 0 1-1 1h-6a3 3 0 0 0-3 3a3 3 0 0 0-3-3z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":23},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Crect width=\"8\" height=\"18\" x=\"3\" y=\"3\" rx=\"1\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M7 3v18m13.4-2.1c.2.5-.1 1.1-.6 1.3l-1.9.7c-.5.2-1.1-.1-1.3-.6L11.1 5.1c-.2-.5.1-1.1.6-1.3l1.9-.7c.5-.2 1.1.1 1.3.6Z\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":25},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 7v14m4-9h2m-2-4h2M3 18a1 1 0 0 1-1-1V4a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h5a4 4 0 0 1 4 4a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h5a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v13a1 1 0 0 1-1 1h-6a3 3 0 0 0-3 3a3 3 0 0 0-3-3zm3-6h2M6 8h2\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":27},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M21.42 10.922a1 1 0 0 0-.019-1.838L12.83 5.18a2 2 0 0 0-1.66 0L2.6 9.08a1 1 0 0 0 0 1.832l8.57 3.908a2 2 0 0 0 1.66 0zM22 10v6\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M6 12.5V16a6 3 0 0 0 12 0v-3.5\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":29},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"m5 8l6 6m-7 0l6-6l2-3M2 5h12M7 2h1m14 20l-5-10l-5 10m2-4h6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":31},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M6 11h4M8 9v4m7-1h.01M18 10h.01m-.69-5H6.68a4 4 0 0 0-3.978 3.59l-.017.152C2.604 9.416 2 14.456 2 16a3 3 0 0 0 3 3c1 0 1.5-.5 2-1l1.414-1.414A2 2 0 0 1 9.828 16h4.344a2 2 0 0 1 1.414.586L17 18c.5.5 1 1 2 1a3 3 0 0 0 3-3c0-1.545-.604-6.584-.685-7.258q-.01-.075-.017-.151A4 4 0 0 0 17.32 5\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":33},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M2 3h20m-1 0v11a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V3m4 18l5-5l5 5\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":35},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M23.268 5.313c-.35-2.578-2.617-4.61-5.304-5.004C17.51.242 15.792 0 11.813 0h-.03c-3.98 0-4.835.242-5.288.309C3.882.692 1.496 2.518.917 5.127C.64 6.412.61 7.837.661 9.143c.074 1.874.088 3.745.26 5.611c.118 1.24.325 2.47.62 3.68c.55 2.237 2.777 4.098 4.96 4.857c2.336.792 4.849.923 7.256.38q.398-.092.786-.213c.585-.184 1.27-.39 1.774-.753a.06.06 0 0 0 .023-.043v-1.809a.05.05 0 0 0-.02-.041a.05.05 0 0 0-.046-.01a20.3 20.3 0 0 1-4.709.545c-2.73 0-3.463-1.284-3.674-1.818a5.6 5.6 0 0 1-.319-1.433a.053.053 0 0 1 .066-.054c1.517.363 3.072.546 4.632.546c.376 0 .75 0 1.125-.01c1.57-.044 3.224-.124 4.768-.422q.059-.011.11-.024c2.435-.464 4.753-1.92 4.989-5.604c.008-.145.03-1.52.03-1.67c.002-.512.167-3.63-.024-5.545m-3.748 9.195h-2.561V8.29c0-1.309-.55-1.976-1.67-1.976c-1.23 0-1.846.79-1.846 2.35v3.403h-2.546V8.663c0-1.56-.617-2.35-1.848-2.35c-1.112 0-1.668.668-1.67 1.977v6.218H4.822V8.102q0-1.965 1.011-3.12c.696-.77 1.608-1.164 2.74-1.164c1.311 0 2.302.5 2.962 1.498l.638 1.06l.638-1.06c.66-.999 1.65-1.498 2.96-1.498c1.13 0 2.043.395 2.74 1.164q1.012 1.155 1.012 3.12z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":37},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M5.202 2.857C7.954 4.922 10.913 9.11 12 11.358c1.087-2.247 4.046-6.436 6.798-8.501C20.783 1.366 24 .213 24 3.883c0 .732-.42 6.156-.667 7.037c-.856 3.061-3.978 3.842-6.755 3.37c4.854.826 6.089 3.562 3.422 6.299c-5.065 5.196-7.28-1.304-7.847-2.97c-.104-.305-.152-.448-.153-.327c0-.121-.05.022-.153.327c-.568 1.666-2.782 8.166-7.847 2.97c-2.667-2.737-1.432-5.473 3.422-6.3c-2.777.473-5.899-.308-6.755-3.369C.42 10.04 0 4.615 0 3.883c0-3.67 3.217-2.517 5.202-1.026\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":39},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M14.234 10.162L22.977 0h-2.072l-7.591 8.824L7.251 0H.258l9.168 13.343L.258 24H2.33l8.016-9.318L16.749 24h6.993zm-2.837 3.299l-.929-1.329L3.076 1.56h3.182l5.965 8.532l.929 1.329l7.754 11.09h-3.182z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":41,"hidden":42},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M20.447 20.452h-3.554v-5.569c0-1.328-.027-3.037-1.852-3.037c-1.853 0-2.136 1.445-2.136 2.939v5.667H9.351V9h3.414v1.561h.046c.477-.9 1.637-1.85 3.37-1.85c3.601 0 4.267 2.37 4.267 5.455v6.286zM5.337 7.433a2.06 2.06 0 0 1-2.063-2.065a2.064 2.064 0 1 1 2.063 2.065m1.782 13.019H3.555V9h3.564zM22.225 0H1.771C.792 0 0 .774 0 1.729v20.542C0 23.227.792 24 1.771 24h20.451C23.2 24 24 23.227 24 22.271V1.729C24 .774 23.2 0 22.222 0z\"\u002F>",true,{"id":44,"title":45,"author":46,"body":47,"cefrLevel":819,"date":46,"description":820,"extension":821,"faqs":46,"gcseTier":822,"intro":823,"language":824,"lastUpdated":46,"meta":825,"navigation":42,"path":826,"seo":827,"stem":828,"verbSlugs":46,"__hash__":829},"pages\u002Fmandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Fdirectional-complements-figurative.md","Figurative Directional Complements in Mandarin: 起来, 下去 and 出来 Beyond Up, Down and Out",null,{"type":48,"value":49,"toc":796},"minimark",[50,55,59,97,116,120,127,170,177,182,185,220,223,238,241,245,252,294,302,306,309,330,333,337,344,351,373,380,412,419,423,426,448,455,459,462,605,608,612,616,623,654,658,661,693,697,704,727,731,734,746,750,783],[51,52,54],"h2",{"id":53},"the-spatial-sense-first-then-the-jump","The spatial sense first, then the jump",[56,57,58],"p",{},"You cannot feel the figurative use until the literal one is solid, so start there. A directional complement is a verb of motion (起, 下, 出, 进, 上, 回 and so on) tacked onto a main verb to say which way the action goes, usually closed off with 来 (lái, towards the speaker) or 去 (qù, away). The literal versions are concrete:",[60,61,62,75,86],"ul",{},[63,64,65,66,70,71,74],"li",{},"站",[67,68,69],"strong",{},"起来"," (zhàn qǐ lái) - ",[67,72,73],{},"stand up"," (the body rises)",[63,76,77,78,81,82,85],{},"走",[67,79,80],{},"下去"," (zǒu xià qù) - ",[67,83,84],{},"walk on down"," (movement continues downward and away)",[63,87,88,89,92,93,96],{},"跑",[67,90,91],{},"出来"," (pǎo chū lái) - ",[67,94,95],{},"run out"," (motion from inside to outside, towards me)",[56,98,99,100,104,105,110,111,115],{},"The figurative versions keep the shape of the verb-plus-direction but swap the physical journey for an abstract one. The trick is to ask what each direction ",[101,102,103],"em",{},"feels"," like as a metaphor. Up is where things spring into life. Carrying on downstream is continuation. Coming out into the open is emergence and discernment. Hold those three images and the rest follows. The literal mechanics of attaching these complements are covered in ",[106,107,109],"a",{"href":108},"\u002Fmandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Fcomplements","complements"," and ",[106,112,114],{"href":113},"\u002Fmandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Fresultative-complements","resultative complements","; this page is purely about the metaphorical leap.",[51,117,119],{"id":118},"起来-the-action-springs-into-being","起来: the action springs into being",[56,121,122,123,126],{},"The core figurative job of 起来 is ",[67,124,125],{},"inception"," - the instant an action or state kicks off. Think of something physically jumping up: that upward burst is the metaphor for a beginning. English reaches for 'start to', 'burst out' or 'break into'.",[60,128,129,140,150,160],{},[63,130,131,132,135,136,139],{},"他",[67,133,134],{},"笑起来"," (tā xiào qǐ lái) - ",[67,137,138],{},"he burst out laughing"," (the laughter springs up)",[63,141,142,143,146,147],{},"天",[67,144,145],{},"冷起来","了 (tiān lěng qǐ lái le) - ",[67,148,149],{},"the weather has started to turn cold",[63,151,152,153,156,157],{},"大家",[67,154,155],{},"唱起来","了 (dà jiā chàng qǐ lái le) - ",[67,158,159],{},"everyone broke into song",[63,161,162,163,166,167],{},"孩子",[67,164,165],{},"哭起来","了 (hái zi kū qǐ lái le) - ",[67,168,169],{},"the child started crying",[56,171,172,173,176],{},"Notice this is about the ",[101,174,175],{},"onset",", not the duration. 笑起来 is the moment the laughing begins, not the laughing carrying on. That contrast with 下去 is the whole game, and we return to it below.",[178,179,181],"h3",{"id":180},"the-起来-try-to-frame","The 起来 'try-to' frame",[56,183,184],{},"Separately, 起来 has a second figurative life as a framing complement that means roughly 'when you try to ...' or 'on doing ...'. Here it sits after a verb and sets up an assessment of how that action turns out.",[60,186,187,198,209],{},[63,188,189,190,193,194,197],{},"这个菜",[67,191,192],{},"吃起来","很辣 (zhè ge cài chī qǐ lái hěn là) - ",[67,195,196],{},"this dish tastes very spicy"," (literally: on eating it, it is very spicy)",[63,199,200,201,204,205,208],{},"这件事",[67,202,203],{},"说起来","话长 (zhè jiàn shì shuō qǐ lái huà cháng) - ",[67,206,207],{},"it is a long story"," (on speaking of it, the words are long)",[63,210,211,212,215,216,219],{},"这个字",[67,213,214],{},"写起来","很难 (zhè ge zì xiě qǐ lái hěn nán) - ",[67,217,218],{},"this character is hard to write"," (when you try to write it, it is hard)",[56,221,222],{},"The classic set phrase built on this frame is worth memorising whole:",[60,224,225],{},[63,226,227,229,230,233,234,237],{},[67,228,203],{},"容易",[67,231,232],{},"做起来","难 (shuō qǐ lái róng yì zuò qǐ lái nán) - ",[67,235,236],{},"easier said than done"," (literally: speaking-of-it easy, doing-it hard)",[56,239,240],{},"Both halves use the try-to frame: 说起来 sets up 'when you go to say it', 做起来 sets up 'when you go to do it', and the adjectives 容易 and 难 deliver the verdict on each. The neat symmetry is why it survives as a proverb.",[51,242,244],{"id":243},"下去-carry-on-keep-going","下去: carry on, keep going",[56,246,247,248,251],{},"If 起来 is the start, 下去 is the ",[67,249,250],{},"continuation",". The image is water flowing downstream, or a road carrying on into the distance: the action keeps rolling in the direction it was already going. English says 'keep on', 'carry on', 'go on'.",[60,253,254,265,275,284],{},[63,255,256,257,260,261,264],{},"你",[67,258,259],{},"说下去"," (nǐ shuō xià qù) - ",[67,262,263],{},"carry on talking"," (keep the speech flowing)",[63,266,267,268,271,272],{},"我们",[67,269,270],{},"坚持下去"," (wǒ men jiān chí xià qù) - ",[67,273,274],{},"let us keep at it \u002F persevere",[63,276,277,278,280,281],{},"这样",[67,279,80],{},"不行 (zhè yàng xià qù bù xíng) - ",[67,282,283],{},"carrying on like this will not do",[63,285,286,287,289,290,293],{},"他读不",[67,288,80],{},"了 (tā dú bú xià qù le) - ",[67,291,292],{},"he could not go on reading"," (potential form: the reading cannot continue)",[56,295,296,297,301],{},"That last example shows 下去 slotting into the potential pattern (verb + 不\u002F得 + complement) covered in ",[106,298,300],{"href":299},"\u002Fmandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Fpotential-complements","potential complements",". 读得下去 (can go on reading) versus 读不下去 (cannot go on reading) is a clean potential pair built on the continuation sense.",[178,303,305],{"id":304},"起来-versus-下去-onset-against-continuation","起来 versus 下去: onset against continuation",[56,307,308],{},"This is the pair to drill, because they are opposite ends of the same timeline. 起来 marks the moment something begins; 下去 marks something that is already running being carried further.",[60,310,311,320],{},[63,312,131,313,315,316,319],{},[67,314,155],{},"了 (tā chàng qǐ lái le) - ",[67,317,318],{},"he broke into song"," (the singing starts now)",[63,321,131,322,325,326,329],{},[67,323,324],{},"唱下去","了 (tā chàng xià qù le) - ",[67,327,328],{},"he carried on singing"," (the singing was already happening and continues)",[56,331,332],{},"Same verb 唱 (chàng, to sing), opposite temporal job. Choose 起来 when you mean the action ignites; choose 下去 when you mean an existing action does not stop.",[51,334,336],{"id":335},"出来-emergence-and-discernment","出来: emergence and discernment",[56,338,339,340,343],{},"出来 has two linked figurative senses, and both come from the literal image of something ",[67,341,342],{},"coming out into view",".",[56,345,346,347,350],{},"The first is plain ",[67,348,349],{},"emergence"," - something is produced, created or brought into existence, moving from nothing into the open.",[60,352,353,363],{},[63,354,131,355,358,359,362],{},[67,356,357],{},"想出来","一个办法 (tā xiǎng chū lái yí gè bàn fǎ) - ",[67,360,361],{},"he thought up a plan"," (the idea emerges)",[63,364,365,366,369,370],{},"厨师",[67,367,368],{},"做出来","一道新菜 (chú shī zuò chū lái yí dào xīn cài) - ",[67,371,372],{},"the chef created a new dish",[56,374,375,376,379],{},"The second is ",[67,377,378],{},"discernment"," - using a sense or the mind, you succeed in making something out, telling it apart, recognising it. The hidden thing comes out into your perception.",[60,381,382,393,403],{},[63,383,384,385,388,389,392],{},"我",[67,386,387],{},"看出来","他在说谎 (wǒ kàn chū lái tā zài shuō huǎng) - ",[67,390,391],{},"I could tell he was lying"," (the truth becomes visible to me)",[63,394,256,395,398,399,402],{},[67,396,397],{},"听出来","了吗 (nǐ tīng chū lái le ma) - ",[67,400,401],{},"did you make it out \u002F could you tell?"," (by ear)",[63,404,384,405,408,409],{},[67,406,407],{},"尝出来","这里面有姜 (wǒ cháng chū lái zhè lǐ miàn yǒu jiāng) - ",[67,410,411],{},"I could taste that there is ginger in this",[56,413,414,415,418],{},"The unifying idea: whatever was hidden, unformed or not yet noticed comes ",[101,416,417],{},"out"," where it can be perceived or used. 想出来 brings an idea out of nowhere; 看出来 brings a hidden fact out into sight. The 来 here is towards the perceiver, which is why 出来 (towards me) is far commoner in this sense than 出去 (away from me).",[178,420,422],{"id":421},"a-note-on-the-split-form","A note on the split form",[56,424,425],{},"With an object, 出来 often splits around it, and so do 起来 and 下去. The object slots between the verb-direction and the final 来\u002F去:",[60,427,428],{},[63,429,131,430,433,434,437,438,441,442,444,445],{},[67,431,432],{},"想","出",[67,435,436],{},"来","了一个好主意 - or more naturally - 他",[67,439,440],{},"想出","一个好主意",[67,443,436],{}," (tā xiǎng chū yí gè hǎo zhǔ yi lái) - ",[67,446,447],{},"he came up with a good idea",[56,449,450,451,343],{},"The split is optional and stylistic; the meaning does not change. For the word-order logic behind where objects can sit, see ",[106,452,454],{"href":453},"\u002Fmandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Fword-order","word order",[51,456,458],{"id":457},"minimal-pairs-side-by-side","Minimal pairs side by side",[56,460,461],{},"Hold the verb still and change only the direction. The metaphor does all the work.",[463,464,465,487],"table",{},[466,467,468],"thead",{},[469,470,471,475,478,481,484],"tr",{},[472,473,474],"th",{},"Sentence",[472,476,477],{},"Pinyin",[472,479,480],{},"Direction",[472,482,483],{},"Figurative sense",[472,485,486],{},"Gloss",[488,489,490,510,530,549,568,585],"tbody",{},[469,491,492,498,501,503,506],{},[493,494,131,495,497],"td",{},[67,496,134],{},"了",[493,499,500],{},"tā xiào qǐ lái le",[493,502,69],{},[493,504,505],{},"inception (it begins)",[493,507,508],{},[67,509,138],{},[469,511,512,517,520,522,525],{},[493,513,131,514,497],{},[67,515,516],{},"笑下去",[493,518,519],{},"tā xiào xià qù le",[493,521,80],{},[493,523,524],{},"continuation (carries on)",[493,526,527],{},[67,528,529],{},"he carried on laughing",[469,531,532,536,539,541,544],{},[493,533,384,534,497],{},[67,535,387],{},[493,537,538],{},"wǒ kàn chū lái le",[493,540,91],{},[493,542,543],{},"discernment (made out)",[493,545,546],{},[67,547,548],{},"I could tell \u002F I saw it",[469,550,551,555,558,560,563],{},[493,552,256,553],{},[67,554,203],{},[493,556,557],{},"nǐ shuō qǐ lái",[493,559,69],{},[493,561,562],{},"try-to frame",[493,564,565],{},[67,566,567],{},"when you go to say it",[469,569,570,574,577,579,581],{},[493,571,256,572],{},[67,573,259],{},[493,575,576],{},"nǐ shuō xià qù",[493,578,80],{},[493,580,250],{},[493,582,583],{},[67,584,263],{},[469,586,587,592,595,597,600],{},[493,588,256,589],{},[67,590,591],{},"说出来",[493,593,594],{},"nǐ shuō chū lái",[493,596,91],{},[493,598,599],{},"emergence (say it out)",[493,601,602],{},[67,603,604],{},"say it out \u002F out with it",[56,606,607],{},"The bottom three are the sharpest drill: 说起来 (on trying to say it), 说下去 (keep saying it), 说出来 (get it said, bring it out). One verb, three directions, three completely different jobs.",[51,609,611],{"id":610},"common-errors","Common errors",[178,613,615],{"id":614},"error-1-using-起来-for-keep-going","Error 1: using 起来 for 'keep going'",[56,617,618,619,622],{},"Because 起来 is the first figurative directional most learners meet, they over-apply it and use it where continuation is meant. 起来 is the ",[101,620,621],{},"start",", not the carrying on.",[60,624,625,637],{},[63,626,627,628,630,631,633,634,343],{},"✗ 你",[67,629,203],{},"吧，我在听 - WRONG if you mean 'go on talking'. 起来 starts a fresh action. To tell someone to continue an existing one, use 下去: 你",[67,632,259],{},"吧，我在听 (nǐ shuō xià qù ba, wǒ zài tīng) - ",[67,635,636],{},"carry on, I am listening",[63,638,639,640,643,644,646,647,650,651,343],{},"他一",[67,641,642],{},"坐","下就",[67,645,134],{},"了 (tā yí zuò xià jiù xiào qǐ lái le) - CORRECT. The laughing ",[101,648,649],{},"begins",", so 起来 is right: ",[67,652,653],{},"the moment he sat down he burst out laughing",[178,655,657],{"id":656},"error-2-writing-出去-when-discernment-needs-出来","Error 2: writing 出去 when discernment needs 出来",[56,659,660],{},"The discernment sense almost always points towards the perceiver, so it takes 来, not 去. Learners who think 'the truth went out' reach for 出去 and get it wrong.",[60,662,663,678],{},[63,664,665,666,669,670,673,674,388,676,343],{},"✗ 我",[67,667,668],{},"看出去","他在说谎 - WRONG. The hidden fact emerges towards ",[101,671,672],{},"you",", the perceiver, so it must be 来: 我",[67,675,387],{},[67,677,391],{},[63,679,680,681,684,685,688,689,692],{},"把灯",[67,682,683],{},"关","了，他",[67,686,687],{},"走出去","了 - CORRECT but literal. Here 出去 is genuine physical motion away from the speaker: ",[67,690,691],{},"he turned off the light and walked out",". Discernment is never 出去.",[178,694,696],{"id":695},"error-3-forgetting-the-aspect-particle-了-on-a-completed-onset","Error 3: forgetting the aspect particle 了 on a completed onset",[56,698,699,700,703],{},"A figurative 起来 marking a state that has ",[101,701,702],{},"already"," begun normally pairs with sentence-final 了 to signal the change of state. Leaving it off makes the onset sound incomplete or like a command.",[60,705,706,718],{},[63,707,708,709,711,712,715,716,343],{},"✗ 天",[67,710,145],{}," - INCOMPLETE as a statement. To say the weather has turned cold, mark the new state with 了: 天",[67,713,714],{},"冷起来了"," (tiān lěng qǐ lái le) - ",[67,717,149],{},[63,719,267,720,722,723,343],{},[67,721,270],{}," (wǒ men jiān chí xià qù) - CORRECT without 了, because this is a call to keep going, not a report of a completed change. The 了 \u002F change-of-state logic sits in ",[106,724,726],{"href":725},"\u002Fmandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Faspect-markers","aspect markers",[178,728,730],{"id":729},"error-4-literal-translating-the-try-to-frame-as-if-起来-meant-up","Error 4: literal-translating the try-to frame as if 起来 meant 'up'",[56,732,733],{},"The framing 吃起来很辣 does not mean 'eat up and it is spicy'. The 起来 here is the assessment frame 'on doing it', and the subject of the adjective is the topic, not the eater.",[60,735,736],{},[63,737,738,739,741,742,745],{},"✗ Reading 这个菜",[67,740,192],{},"很辣 as 'eat the dish up, very spicy'. The real sense is ",[67,743,744],{},"this dish tastes spicy"," - 吃起来 frames the verdict that follows. The dish, not the eater, is what is spicy.",[51,747,749],{"id":748},"what-to-drill","What to drill",[751,752,753,759,765,771,777],"ol",{},[63,754,755,758],{},[67,756,757],{},"Map each direction to one metaphor."," 起来 = it begins (springs up). 下去 = it carries on (flows down and away). 出来 = it emerges into view (comes out). Decide the meaning first, then the direction follows.",[63,760,761,764],{},[67,762,763],{},"Drill the 起来 \u002F 下去 timeline pair."," 唱起来了 (broke into song) against 唱下去了 (carried on singing). Onset versus continuation, same verb.",[63,766,767,770],{},[67,768,769],{},"Default 出来 to 来, not 去, for discernment."," 看出来, 听出来, 想出来 all point at the perceiver. 出去 is for literal motion away from you only.",[63,772,773,776],{},[67,774,775],{},"Learn the proverb whole."," 说起来容易做起来难 (easier said than done) bakes the try-to frame into one liftable phrase.",[63,778,779,782],{},[67,780,781],{},"Pair figurative 起来 onsets with 了."," A turned state - 天冷起来了, 孩子哭起来了 - takes change-of-state 了; a forward-looking 下去 call to continue does not.",[56,784,785,786,110,788,790,791,793,794,343],{},"For the literal complement machinery these all sit on, see ",[106,787,109],{"href":108},[106,789,114],{"href":113},". For the can \u002F cannot versions like 读不下去 and 看得出来, see ",[106,792,300],{"href":299},". For the change-of-state 了 that rides with figurative 起来, see ",[106,795,726],{"href":725},{"title":797,"searchDepth":798,"depth":798,"links":799},"",2,[800,801,805,808,811,812,818],{"id":53,"depth":798,"text":54},{"id":118,"depth":798,"text":119,"children":802},[803],{"id":180,"depth":804,"text":181},3,{"id":243,"depth":798,"text":244,"children":806},[807],{"id":304,"depth":804,"text":305},{"id":335,"depth":798,"text":336,"children":809},[810],{"id":421,"depth":804,"text":422},{"id":457,"depth":798,"text":458},{"id":610,"depth":798,"text":611,"children":813},[814,815,816,817],{"id":614,"depth":804,"text":615},{"id":656,"depth":804,"text":657},{"id":695,"depth":804,"text":696},{"id":729,"depth":804,"text":730},{"id":748,"depth":798,"text":749},"B2-C1","The metaphorical uses of the directional complements. 起来 (qǐ lái) marks inception, the moment an action starts (笑起来, to burst out laughing) and the 'when you try to' frame (说起来容易做起来难, easier said than done). 下去 (xià qù) marks continuation, carrying an action on (说下去, keep talking). 出来 (chū lái) marks discernment or emergence, something coming into view or into being (看出来, to make out; 想出来, to think up). The literal directions and their figurative jumps, worked minimal pairs, and the errors that catch learners.","md","higher","Every learner meets 起来, 下去 and 出来 first as literal directions: 站起来 (stand up), 走下去 (walk down), 跑出来 (run out). Then Mandarin does the thing it loves doing and lifts those same three directions off the ground into metaphor. 起来 stops meaning 'upward' and starts meaning 'this is the moment it begins'. 下去 stops meaning 'downward' and starts meaning 'keep it going'. 出来 stops meaning 'outward' and starts meaning 'it has emerged, you can now perceive it'. This is not a separate grammar you have to learn from scratch - it is the literal spatial sense stretched in a direction that, once you see it, is almost embarrassingly logical. This page takes the three most useful figurative directionals, shows the metaphor under each, drills the minimal pairs, and flags the places where learners reach for the wrong direction.","mandarin",{},"\u002Fmandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Fdirectional-complements-figurative",{"title":45,"description":820},"mandarin\u002Fgrammar\u002Fdirectional-complements-figurative","Xtt9MRN7Veq-gmWzFRadIJmd1_4uY4oSOVf80fsmmDY",[],{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":832},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M12 15V3m9 12v4a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2v-4\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"m7 10l5 5l5-5\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":834},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M13 21h8M15 5l4 4m2.174-2.188a1 1 0 0 0-3.986-3.987L3.842 16.174a2 2 0 0 0-.5.83l-1.321 4.352a.5.5 0 0 0 .623.622l4.353-1.32a2 2 0 0 0 .83-.497z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":836},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Crect width=\"18\" height=\"18\" x=\"3\" y=\"3\" rx=\"2\" ry=\"2\"\u002F>\u003Ccircle cx=\"9\" cy=\"9\" r=\"2\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"m21 15l-3.086-3.086a2 2 0 0 0-2.828 0L6 21\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":838},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M6 22a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V4a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h8a2.4 2.4 0 0 1 1.704.706l3.588 3.588A2.4 2.4 0 0 1 20 8v12a2 2 0 0 1-2 2z\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M14 2v5a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h5M10 9H8m8 4H8m8 4H8\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",1]