The compound directional complement

The compound directional complement derives from the combination of the verbs 去 (qù) and 来 (lái) with other verbs like 上 (shàng) “to go up”,下 (xià) “to go down”, 出 (chū) “to go out”, 过 (guò) “to pass” and 起 (qǐ) “to get up”. These combinations are placed after the main action verb to indicate not only approaching and distancing but also a more precise direction.

上来 (shàng lái): indicates a positive outcome or the ability to do something.

这个问题老师肯定回答得上来。
zhège wèntí lǎoshī kěndìng huídá dé shànglái
[this QU question teacher certainly to-answer ST to-go-up to-come]
The teacher will certainly be able to answer this question.

上去 (shàngqù): indicates an addition or an increase.

水果沙拉还没准备好，你还要把这两个苹果加上去。
shuǐguǒ shālā hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo, nǐ hái yào bǎ zhè liǎng gè píngguǒ jiā shàngqù
[fruit-salad yet not ready good you still to-have-to BA this two QU apple to-add to-go-up to-go]
The fruit salad is not ready yet, you still have to add these two apples.

下来 (xiàlái): indicates detachment, stillness, the gradual development of a condition and the continuation of an action from the past to the present.

他把树上的梨子都摘下来了。
tā bǎ shù shàng de lízi dōu zhāi xiàláile
[he BA tree on ST pear all to-pick to-go-down to-come MOD]
He picked all the pears from the tree.

公共汽车停下来了。
gōnggòng qìchē tíng xiàláile
[bus to-stop to-go-down to-come MOD]
The bus stopped.

天空慢慢地黑下来了。
tiānkōng màn man de hēi xiàláile
[sky slowly ST black to-go-down to-come MOD]
The sky darkened slowly.

这个故事是从古代传下来的。
zhège gùshì shì cóng gǔdài chuán xiàlái de
[this QU story to-be from ancient-times to-pass-on to-go-down to-come ST]
This story has been passed on from ancient times.

下去 (xiàqù): indicates the continuation of an action from the present.

没有你我真的不能活下去。
méiyǒu nǐ wǒ zhēn de bùnéng huó xiàqù
[not there-be you I really ST not can to-live to-go-down to-go]
I really can’t live without you.

出来 (chūlái): indicates the occurrence or the recognition of something.

兔子突然跳了出来。
tùzǐ túrán tiàole chūlái
[rabbit suddenly to-jump ASP to-go-out to-come]
The rabbit suddenly jumped out.

他变胖了，我真的认不出来他了。
tā biàn pàngle, wǒ zhēn de rèn bù chūlái tāle
[he to-become fat MOD I really ST to-recognize not to-go-out to-come he MOD]
He got fat, I really can’t recognize him.

过来 (guòlái): indicates a rotating and approaching movement and a return to an original state.

你能不能把电脑拿过来？
nǐ néng bùnéng bǎ diànnǎo ná guòlái
[you can not can BA computer to-take to-pass to-come]
Can you bring me the computer?

她终于醒过来了。
tā zhōngyú xǐng guòláile
[she at-last to-wake-up to-pass to-come MOD]
At last she woke up.

过去 (guòqù): indicates a rotating and distancing movement and a departure from an original state.

我们马上派人过去帮您拿行李。
wǒmen mǎshàng pài rén guòqù bāng nín ná xínglǐ
[we immediately to-send person to-pass to-go to-help you to-take luggage]
We immediately send someone over to help you with your luggage.

病人一到了医院就晕过去了。
bìngrén yī dàole yīyuàn jiù yūn guòqùle
[patient as-soon-as to-arrive ASP hospital then to-faint to-pass to-go MOD]
The patient fainted as soon as he arrived at the hospital.

回来 (huílái): indicates an approaching return.

这个礼物是我从中国带回来的。
zhège lǐwù shì wǒ cóng zhōngguó dài huílái de
[this QU gift to-be I from China to-bring to-return to-come ST]
This gift was brought from China by me.

回去 (huíqù): indicates a distancing return.

他把书带回图书馆去了。
tā bǎ shū dài huí túshū guǎn qùle
[he BA book to-take to-return library to-go MOD]
He took the book back to the library.

起来 (qǐlái): indicates a concealment, the gathering of things that were previously scattered, the outcome of an action, the beginning of an action. It can also mean “to” with reference to the ability to do something.

妈妈把玩具都收起来了。
māmā bǎ wánjù dōu shōu qǐláile
[mum BA toy all to-put-away to-get-up to-come MOD]
Mum put all the toys away.

她喜欢把头发系起来。
tā xǐhuān bǎ tóufǎ xì qǐlái
[she to-like BA hair to-tie to-get-up to-come]
She likes to tie her hair.

我想起来了。
wǒ xiǎng qǐláile
[I to-remember to-get-up to-come MOD]
I remembered it.

孩子一跌倒，就立马哭了起来。
háizi yī diédǎo, jiù lìmǎ kūle qǐlái
[child as-soon-as to-fall then right-away to-cry ASP to-get-up to-come]
The child started crying as soon as he fell.

筷子用起来很不容易。
kuàizi yòng qǐlái hěn bù róngyì
[chopstick to-use to-get-up to-come INT not easy]
Chopsticks are not easy to use.

Finally, when the object is represented by a place, this must necessarily be placed inside the compound directional complement.

Cover background picture by Magda Ehlers (pexels.com)