This picks up where 方向補語方向补语 fāngxiàng bǔyǔ Direction Complement 1 left off — three more ways these direction words are used, this time marking a result, a start, or a continuation instead of literal motion.
1 Result Meaning: V + 出出 chū / 起起 qǐ / 下下 xià
All three of these words can mark that an action has produced a definite result — something that used to be hidden, uncertain, or nonexistent is now settled.
1. 出出 chū — From Nothing to Something
Often extended to 出來出来 chūlái — an answer worked out, a secret told, a result produced.
我要做出成績我要做出成绩
I want to produce real results.
我想不出來下一篇文章要寫什麼我想不出来下一篇文章要写什么
I can’t think of what to write for the next article.
我說出了我的秘密我说出了我的秘密
I let out my secret.
2. 起起 qǐ — An Action Produces a Result
A feeling, a sound, a reaction — something rises up as the direct result of what just happened.
因為他說的話，我燃起了憤怒因为他说的话，我燃起了愤怒
Because of what he said, I became angry.
表演結束後台下響起了掌聲表演结束后台下响起了掌声
Applause broke out after the show.
這個消息在網路上引起了熱烈討論这个消息在网路上引起了热烈讨论
This news sparked a heated discussion online.
3. 下下 xià — Fixing Something in Place
An impression, a memory, a piece of writing — something is fixed in place, leaving a lasting record.
我對她留下了深刻的印象我对她留下了深刻的印象
I was strongly impressed by her.
你需要記下我說的話你需要记下我说的话
You need to remember what I said.
請把這些單字背下來请把这些单字背下来
Please memorize these words.
2 Start of an Action: V + 上上 shàng / 起來起来 qǐlái
上上 shàng can mark that an action or habit has just begun, alongside 起來起来 qǐlái.
1. V + 上上 shàng (O) — A New Habit Sticks
這孩子又玩上遊戲了这孩子又玩上游戏了
This kid is playing video games again.
你真的在節食嗎？怎麼又吃上了？你真的在节食吗？怎么又吃上了？
Are you really dieting? Then why are you eating again?
不是說要戒菸嗎？怎麼又抽上了？不是说要戒烟吗？怎么又抽上了？
Didn’t you say you’d quit smoking? Then why are you smoking again?
2. V + 起來起来 qǐlái — Spontaneous and Sudden
突然下起雨來了突然下起雨来了
It suddenly started raining.
他怎麼打開中文書就睡起來了他怎么打开中文书就睡起来了
Why does he fall asleep the moment he opens his Chinese textbook?
因為我的求婚，我女朋友哭起來了因为我的求婚，我女朋友哭起来了
Because of my proposal, my girlfriend burst into tears.
V起起 qǐ (O)來来 lái vs 開始开始 kāishǐ V
Both describe something starting, but the feeling is different. 起來起来 qǐlái frames the start as sudden and unplanned. 開始开始 kāishǐ is a neutral, factual statement — no surprise implied.
天啊！外面開始下雨了，不知道爸爸有沒有傘。天啊！外面开始下雨了，不知道爸爸有没有伞。 tiān a! wàimiàn kāishǐ xiàyǔ le, bù zhīdào bàba yǒu méiyǒu sǎn — “Oh no, it’s started raining outside, I wonder if Dad has an umbrella.” (a fact, stated plainly)
就在我走出去的時候，突然下起雨來了。就在我走出去的时候，突然下起雨来了。 jiù zài wǒ zǒu chūqù de shíhòu, tūrán xià qǐ yǔ lái le — “Just as I walked outside, it suddenly started raining.” (out of nowhere)
3 Continuation of an Action: V + 下去下去 xiàqù / 下來下来 xiàlái
下去下去 xiàqù pushes an action already underway forward into the future; 下來下来 xiàlái looks back at an action that’s been running since the past and has arrived at now.
1. V + 下去下去 xiàqù — Keep Going
別緊張，你說下去。别紧张，你说下去。
Don’t be nervous, keep talking.
你的中文不錯，我建議你繼續學下去。你的中文不错，我建议你继续学下去。
Your Chinese is pretty good — I’d suggest you keep on studying it.
我聽不下去了，你根本在鬼扯。我听不下去了，你根本在鬼扯。
I can’t keep listening to this — you’re totally talking nonsense.
FYI · 鬼扯鬼扯 guǐchě
Literally “ghost pulling,” 鬼扯鬼扯 guǐchě is casual slang for talking nonsense or bullshitting. It’s blunt and informal — fine with friends, not with your boss.
2. V + 下來下来 xiàlái — From the Past to Now
我中文5年學下來，已經花了不少錢了。我中文5年学下来，已经花了不少钱了。
Five years into studying Chinese, I’ve already spent quite a bit of money.
這樣聽下來，這件事確實是你不對。这样听下来，这件事确实是你不对。
Having heard the whole story, this really is your fault.
我雖然不喜歡我的公司，但算下來也做了10年多了。我虽然不喜欢我的公司，但算下来也做了10年多了。
Although I don’t love my company, tallying it up I’ve been there over 10 years now.
4 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01It suddenly started snowing.
突然下起雪來了突然下起雪来了
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02The moment she turned on the TV, she started laughing.
她一打開電視就笑起來了她一打开电视就笑起来了
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03He’s smoking again.
他又抽上菸了他又抽上烟了
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04His words stirred up my fighting spirit.
他的話激起了我的鬥志他的话激起了我的斗志
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05Don’t stop, keep talking.
別停，你繼續說下去别停，你继续说下去
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06This movie is so boring, I can’t keep watching it.
這部電影太無聊了，我看不下去了这部电影太无聊了，我看不下去了
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07Counting it up, we’ve been friends for 20 years now.
這樣算下來，我們當朋友已經20年了这样算下来，我们当朋友已经20年了
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08The teacher asked us to copy down the new words.
老師要求我們把生詞抄下來老师要求我们把生词抄下来
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09I can’t think of a solution.
我想不出解決的辦法我想不出解决的办法
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10She revealed the truth.
她說出了真相她说出了真相
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