This continues from 方向補語方向补语 fāngxiàng bǔyǔ Direction Complement 2 — so far every pattern has attached to a verb, describing an action. Here the same direction words attach to an adjective instead, describing a state changing.

1 A State Changes: Adj + 起來起来 qǐlái / 下來下来 xiàlái / 下去下去 xiàqù

Attached to an adjective instead of a verb, these three direction words describe a quality changing rather than an action happening.

1. Adj + 起來起来 qǐlái — A State Kicks In

A quality suddenly becoming noticeable — the weather turns, a mood shifts, a room livens up.

2. Adj + 下來下来 xiàlái — A State Settles

下來下来 xiàlái marks a state easing or calming down from something more intense — the opposite direction from 起來起来 qǐlái above.

3. Adj + 下去下去 xiàqù — A State Keeps Going

下去下去 xiàqù marks an existing state continuing on — often a warning that an already unwelcome trend shouldn’t keep going.

2 V + 過來过来 guòlái / 過去过去 guòqù — Consciousness

With verbs like 醒醒 xǐng (wake) or 暈晕 yūn (faint), 過來过来 guòlái marks a return to a normal, clear state, while 過去过去 guòqù marks slipping out of one. The same 過來过来 guòlái also covers a bad habit finally being corrected.

3 Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.