Direction Complement VV and VVV

Grammar Point:
A direction complement is a complement used to describe the direction of a verb in Chinese. For example, the verb “走 zǒu” means “to walk”. However, to specify which direction you are walking in, you can add a direction complement to describe where you are walking to. For example,

走zǒu進jìn走zǒu进jìn
Walk in

走zǒu出chū走zǒu出chū
Walk out

Now, let’s take a look at the various directional complements commonly used in Mandarin Chinese:

Structure

V + 來来 lái、去 qù

來来 lái and 去 qù describe movement toward or away from a reference point (usually the speaker).

V + 進进 jìn、出 chū

The characters 進进 jìn and 出 chū are usually used with an object that indicates a place. Use 進进 jìn when the action involves moving inward, and 出 chū when the action involves moving outward.

V + 上 shàng、下 xià

The characters 上 shàng and 下 xià are typically used with a destination or location. Use 上 shàng when the action involves moving upward, and 下 xià when the action involves moving downward.

V + 起 qǐ

This is a particularly unique word in Chinese, as it generally means “to rise”. In directional complements, it is always used with 來来 lái.

起來来 qǐlái has several meanings and functions, but here we’ll focus only on its use as a directional complement. In this context, it is similar to the English word “up”, indicating an upward movement.

Note: Both 上 shàng and 起 qǐ indicate upward movement. However, the key difference is that 上 shàng usually requires a specific destination or surface, while 起 qǐ does not.

V + 回 huí

回 huí is used for movements that involve going back or returning.

V + 開开 kāi

This word means to move something to another place, and it does not always require an object.

V + 過过 guò

This word basically means ‘pass’, ‘cross’, or ‘through’.

Now what’s compound direction complement?

A Chinese compound directional complement is formed by combining two or more basic directional words to express more specific movement or direction. One common pattern is:

👉 Direction + 來来 lái / 去 qù

This structure helps indicate the direction of movement relative to the speaker’s position.

Use 去 qù if the action is moving away from the speaker.
Use 來来 lái if the action is moving toward the speaker.

	上 shàng	下 xià	進进 jìn	出 chū	回 huí	過过 guò	起 qǐ
來来 lái	上來来 Come up	下來来 Come down	進來进来 Come in	出來来 Come out	回來来 Come back	過來过来 Come over	起來来 Get up/rise
去 qù	上去 Go up	下去 Go down	進进去 Go in	出去 Go out	回去 Go back	過过去 Go over

When to use it?

Compound direction complements are often used with verbs that involve moving objects, such as 搬 bān for moving, 放 fàng for placing or carrying, 拿 ná for taking, and 開开 kāi for driving, as well as body movements like 走 zǒu for walking and 跑 pǎo for running.

Verbs	Direction verbs Complements	來来 lái or 去 qù	Meaning
走 zǒu	回 huí	去 qù	walk back to there
搬 bān	出 chū	來来 lái	move out*
搬 bān	出 chū	去 qù	move out*
開开 kāi	過过 guò	來来 lái	drive cross to here

* Difference

搬bān出chū搬bān出chū
It simply means “to move out” or “to move something out”

搬bān出chū來lái搬bān出chū来lái
It implies that the speaker is focusing on the direction of the movement towards the speaker, as indicated by the use of 來来 lái.

搬bān出chū去qù搬bān出chū去qù
The direction complement 去 qù which indicates movement away from the speaker.

Now let’s try to read a short story

A Pet Cat And A Stray Cat

Ah！There is one word I need to teach you before you watch it.

別 bié: It means do not do something.

別bié看kàn我wǒ！ 别bié看kàn我wǒ！
Don’t look at me!

And if you find the video speed too fast, you can slow it down by changing the speed…

Sentences in the Video

Where to place a destination

In Chinese sentences involving movement verbs + compound direction complements, the destination usually comes after the verb and before the compound direction complement.

這zhè些xiē東西dōngxī， 請qǐng搬bān進jìn廚房chúfáng去qù这zhè些xiē东西dōngxi， 请qǐng搬bān进jìn厨房chúfáng去qù
Please move these things into the kitchen.

你nǐ明年míngnián要yào回huí美國měiguó去qù嗎ma？ 你nǐ明年míngnián要yào回huí美国měiguó去qù吗ma？
Are you going back to the U.S. next year?

那些nàxiē書shū， 都dōu幫bāng我wǒ拿ná上shàng二èr樓lóu來lái那些nàxiē书shū， 都dōu帮bāng我wǒ拿ná上shàng二èr楼lóu来lái
Please bring those books upstairs for me.

• Compound Direction Complements Practice