Complex Directional Complements in Chinese

Overview

Complex directional complements (复合趋向补语, fùhé qūxiàng bǔyǔ) combine a verb with a direction word AND 来/去, creating three-part structures: 走进来 (walk-in-come = walk in toward speaker), 跑出去 (run-out-go = run out away from speaker). These extend simple directional complements into precise, layered movement descriptions.

At the CEFR B2 level, complex directional complements are essential for natural storytelling and description. Beyond literal movement, many have developed figurative meanings: 想起来 (remember), 坚持下去 (persevere), 看出来 (figure out).

Object placement with complex complements is notably flexible, with the object sometimes splitting the complement: 走进教室来 (walk into the classroom toward me).

How It Works

Structure: Verb + Direction + 来/去

Verb	Direction	来/去	Combined	Meaning
走	进	来	走进来	walk in (toward)
跑	出	去	跑出去	run out (away)
拿	上	来	拿上来	bring up
搬	下	去	搬下去	carry down

Figurative uses

Complement	Literal	Figurative
起来	rise up	begin to / seem to
下去	go down	continue
出来	come out	figure out / emerge
下来	come down	settle / calm
过来	come over	regain / recover

Examples in Context

Chinese	Pinyin	English	Note
他跑了出去。	Tā pǎo le chūqù.	He ran out.	literal movement
请把书拿上来。	Qǐng bǎ shū ná shànglái.	Please bring the book up.	literal
想起来了！	Xiǎng qǐlái le!	I remembered!	figurative: recall
坚持下去。	Jiānchí xiàqù.	Keep going / persevere.	figurative: continue
他走进了教室。	Tā zǒu jìn le jiàoshì.	He walked into the classroom.	literal
她哭了起来。	Tā kū le qǐlái.	She started crying.	figurative: begin
看出来了。	Kàn chūlái le.	I figured it out.	figurative: discern
安静下来。	Ānjìng xiàlái.	Quiet down.	figurative: settle
他醒了过来。	Tā xǐng le guòlái.	He regained consciousness.	figurative: recover
天气暖和起来了。	Tiānqì nuǎnhuo qǐlái le.	The weather is warming up.	figurative: begin state

Common Mistakes

Confusing literal and figurative meanings

• Wrong: Interpreting 想起来 as "think upward"
• Right: 想起来 means "recall/remember" (figurative use of 起来 = emerge)
• Why: Many complex complements have figurative meanings that must be learned as vocabulary items.

Misplacing objects in complex complements

• Wrong: 走进来教室
• Right: 走进教室来 (place object between direction and 来/去)
• Why: Place objects typically split the complex complement, going between the direction word and 来/去.

Mixing up 来 and 去 perspective

• Wrong: 他走进来了 when the speaker is outside
• Right: 他走进去了 (he walked in -- away from speaker who is outside)
• Why: The 来/去 choice depends on the speaker's position, not the subject's destination.

Practice Tips

• Learn the figurative meanings of 起来, 下去, 出来, 下来 as separate vocabulary items -- they are extremely common.
• Practice with movement scenarios: describe people entering (进来/进去), leaving (出来/出去), going up (上来/上去) relative to your position.
• Master the "beginning" meaning of 起来: 笑起来 (start laughing), 下起雨来 (start raining), 忙起来 (get busy).

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Directional Complements -- learn simple directional complements first
• Next steps: Abstract Directional Complements -- deeper exploration of figurative meanings