Put 起來 qǐlái起来 qǐlai after a verb of the senses or an action, and you get your impression of something: how it looks, sounds, tastes, feels or works. “It looks sweet,” “it sounds great,” “it’s comfortable to wear.”
一 How Something Seems
Subject + Verb + 起來起来 + Adjective / Description
With 看 kàn, 聽 tīng听 tīng, 吃 chī or 聞 wén闻 wén, it’s about how something seems to you.
這这蛋糕看起來起来很甜
This cake looks really sweet.
他聽听起來起来很聰明聪明
He sounds really smart.
這这首歌聽听起來起来很輕快轻快
This song sounds really light and cheerful.
臭豆腐聞闻起來起来很臭，吃起來起来很香
Stinky tofu smells awful, but it tastes great.
Super useful看起來 kàn qǐlái看起来 kàn qǐlai and 聽起來 tīng qǐlái听起来 tīng qǐlai are some of the most useful phrases in Chinese. Use them anytime you want to give your opinion without sounding too sure: 看起來不錯！看起来不错！ (“Looks good!”), 聽起來很好玩！听起来很好玩！ (“Sounds fun!”).
二 How Something Feels to Use
With action verbs, it describes what something is like when you use it: wearing it, sitting on it, walking in it.
這这衣服穿起來起来不太舒服舒服
These clothes aren’t very comfortable to wear.
這这雙双鞋走起來起来很輕鬆轻松
These shoes are really comfortable to walk in.
這这把椅子坐起來起来很硬
This chair is really hard to sit on.
三 How Someone Looks Doing Something
It can also describe how someone looks while doing something.
她笑起來起来很好看
She looks really pretty when she smiles.
他跳起舞來来很優雅优雅
He looks really elegant when he dances.
With a verb + object like 跳舞 tiàowǔ, the object goes in the middle: 跳起舞來跳起舞来.
他跑起來起来像專業专业運動員运动员
He runs like a professional athlete.
四 Impression vs. Beginning
This is a different 起來 qǐlái起来 qǐlai from the “start doing something” one.
Impression · how it seems
她笑起來起来很好看
She looks pretty when she smiles. Always followed by a description.
Beginning · starts to
她笑起來起来了
She started laughing. Usually ends with 了 and no description.
五 Common Mistakes
❌ 這这蛋糕看起來看起来
✅ 這这蛋糕看起來起来很好吃
In this meaning, V + 起來 qǐlái起来 qǐlai always needs a description after it.
❌ 我看起來起来這这個个蛋糕很甜
✅ 這这個个蛋糕看起來起来很甜
The thing being described is the subject, not “I.” (To add “I think,” say 我覺得這個蛋糕看起來很甜我觉得这个蛋糕看起来很甜.)
❌ 他唱歌起來起来很好聽好听
✅ 他唱起歌來来很好聽好听
With a verb + object, the object goes between 起 qǐ and 來 lái来 lai. (You can also just say 他唱歌很好聽他唱歌很好听.)
六 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“This dish looks delicious.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這这道菜看起來起来很好吃
Your impression from looking at it.
“Your plan sounds great!”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你的計畫计划聽听起來起来不錯不错！
聽起來 tīng qǐlái听起来 tīng qǐlai = “sounds.”
“This bed is really comfortable to sleep on.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這这張张床睡起來起来很舒服舒服
How it feels when you use it.
“He looks like a kid when he laughs.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
他笑起來起来像小孩子
How someone looks while doing something.
“This perfume smells really good.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這这瓶香水聞闻起來起来很香
聞起來 wén qǐlái闻起来 wén qǐlai = “smells.”
“This pen is really smooth to write with.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這这支筆笔寫写起來起来很順顺
How it feels to write with. ✍️
“She looks like a different person when she sings.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
她唱起歌來来像另一個个人
Object in the middle: 唱起歌來唱起歌来.
“This problem sounds simple, but it’s actually hard.”
