Subjective Evaluation qǐlái 起來

To start – V + 起 qǐ

Posted on by tiffany

Grammar Point:
In Mandarin Chinese, 起 qǐ can be used after a verb to show that an action begins or starts happening.
It often gives the feeling of “starting into action” or “beginning a new state.”

Structure

Verb + 起 qǐ (Object + 来 lái)

突然tūrán下xià起qǐ雨yǔ来lái了le
Suddenly it started to rain.

他tā怎么zěnme打dǎ开kāi中文zhōngwén书shū就jiù睡shuì起qǐ来lái了le
How come he falls asleep as soon as he opens a Chinese book?

因为yīnwèi我的wǒde求婚qiúhūn， 我wǒ女朋友nǚpéngyou哭kū起来qǐlái了le
My girlfriend started to cry because of my purpose.

大家dàjiā突然tūrán安静ānjìng起来qǐlái
Everyone suddenly became quiet.

公司gōngsī最近zuìjìn忙máng起来qǐlái了le
The company has become busy recently.

他tā一yì听到tīngdào这个zhège消息xiāoxī就jiù生气shēngqì起来qǐlái
As soon as he heard the news, he became angry.

大家dàjiā听tīng了le都dōu笑xiào起来qǐlái了le
Everyone started laughing after hearing it.

📌 If there is an object, “来 lái” is optional, but if there is no object, you must use “起来 qǐlái” (as a two-character complement).

Differences – 开始 kāishǐ and 起来 qǐlái

开始 kāishǐ is a more neutral and general way to say that an action begins, and it is often used to describe a deliberate action or personal decision.

他tā开始kāishǐ哭kū了le
He started to cry.
(This is neutral and factual.)

我wǒ要yào开始kāishǐ学xué中文zhōngwén ✅
I’m going to start learning Chinese.

V + 起 qǐ emphasizes the transition into a new action or state, and is commonly used for emotional reactions, atmosphere changes, or other noticeable changes.

他tā哭kū起来qǐlái了le
He burst into tears / He started crying.
(This sounds more vivid and emotional. It focuses on the moment the crying began.)

我wǒ开始kāishǐ学xué起qǐ中文zhōngwén来lái了le ❌
I’m going to start learning Chinese.
(This is a personal decision.)

Do you like it? 🙂