Keep Doing Something: V + 下去 xiàqù

Besides “go down,” 下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu after a verb can mean keep doing something: continuing an action from now into the future.

一 V + 下去: Keep Doing

Verb + 下去

Put 下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu right after the verb. 繼續 jìxù继续 jìxù (“continue”) often comes before the verb to make it stronger.

别bié紧张jǐnzhāng，你nǐ说shuō下去xiàqu

Don’t be nervous, just go on.

你nǐ的de中文Zhōngwén不错búcuò，我wǒ建议jiànyì你nǐ继续jìxù学xué下去xiàqu

Your Chinese is good. I suggest you keep learning.

不管bùguǎn多duō难nán，我wǒ都dōu会huì坚持jiānchí下去xiàqu

No matter how hard it is, I’ll keep going.

二 If This Keeps Going…

这样 / 再 + V + 下去，…

這樣 zhèyàng这样 zhèyàng or 再 zài + V + 下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu means “if this keeps going on,” usually followed by a warning about what will happen.

这样zhèyàng下去xiàqu，我们wǒmen的de钱qián很hěn快kuài就jiù花光huāguāng了le

If this continues, our money will be gone soon.

你nǐ再zài玩wán下去xiàqu就要jiùyào迟到chídào了le！

If you keep playing, you’ll be late!

你nǐ这样zhèyàng吃chī下去xiàqu会huì变biàn胖pàng哦o

If you keep eating like this, you’ll gain weight.

如果rúguǒ这样zhèyàng吵chǎo下去xiàqu，邻居línjū会huì来lái抗议kàngyì的de

If we keep arguing like this, the neighbors will complain.

三 V + 不 + 下去: Can’t Go On

Verb + 不 + 下去

Put 不 bù between the verb and 下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu to say you can’t go on anymore. This is a potential complement, often followed by 了 le.

这zhè份fèn工作gōngzuò我wǒ实在shízài做zuò不bu下去xiàqu了le

I really can’t keep doing this job.

我wǒ听tīng不bu下去xiàqu了le，你nǐ根本gēnběn在zài鬼扯guǐchě

I can’t listen anymore, you’re just talking nonsense.

FYI: 鬼扯鬼扯 guǐchě is slang for “talking nonsense.” 鬼 guǐ means “ghost” and adds emphasis, and 扯 chě means “to pull,” as if pulling stories out of thin air. Together it means someone is making up unbelievable things.

四下去 vs. 下來下来

下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu · from now on

我wǒ会huì坚持jiānchí下去xiàqu

I’ll keep at it. (Into the future.)

下來 xiàlái下来 xiàlai · up to now

我wǒ坚持jiānchí下来xiàlai了le

I stuck it out. (From the past until now.)

下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu can still mean “go down” too, as in 走zǒu下去xiàqù下去xiàqu (walk down the stairs). The context tells you which one it is. See Direction Complements 1.

五 Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ會huì会huì繼續jìxù继续jìxù學xué学xué中文Zhōngwén下去xiàqù下去xiàqu

✅ 中文Zhōngwén我wǒ會huì会huì繼續jìxù继续jìxù學xué学xué下去xiàqù下去xiàqu

The object can’t go between the verb and 下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu. Move it to the front, or just leave it out.

❌ 我wǒ會huì会huì繼續jìxù继续jìxù下去xiàqù下去xiàqu學xué学xué

✅ 我wǒ會huì会huì繼續jìxù继续jìxù學xué学xué下去xiàqù下去xiàqu

下去 xiàqù下去 xiàqu comes after the verb, while 繼續 jìxù继续 jìxù goes before it.

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

“Don’t stop, keep talking.”