趋向补语 (directional complements) — Directional complements — 来/去, 上来/下去, 出来/回去

Directional complements add "where to/from" to a verb: 进来 (come in), 拿去 (take away), 站起来 (stand up). Simple forms are 来/去; compound forms combine a direction (上/下/进/出/回/过/起) with 来/去: 上来, 下去. Use 来 when movement is toward the speaker, 去 when away. Abstract use is everywhere: 说出来 (say it out), 坚持下去 (persist), 想起来 (recall).

complementHSK 3Difficulty 60

Where it goes

Verb + Direction (+ Object placed between compound parts: 拿出一本书来)

What it does

01Literal movement: 他走进来了 ("he walked in")
02Abstract results: 说出来 (speak out), 看出来 (notice), 坚持下去 (keep going)
03来 = toward speaker, 去 = away from speaker

Common learner errors

⚠Wrong direction relative to speaker: 来 vs 去 flipped
⚠Putting a long object after the whole compound: 他拿来了我的书 is possible but 他拿了一本书来 is preferred for long objects
⚠Overusing English-style prepositions: 上楼去 instead of 去楼上 — 趋向补语 replaces them

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趋向补语 (directional complements) — Directional complements — 来/去, 上来/下去, 出来/回去