HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
起来, 下去, 出来: start, keep going, figure out
起来 = start (笑起来), 下去 = carry on (说下去), 出来 = work out (想出来).
Structure
- Verb / adjective + 起来
- Verb + 下去
- Verb + 出来
How it works
Direction words also have abstract uses. 起来 shows that something begins: 他笑起来了 he started laughing; 天冷起来了 it’s getting cold.
下去 shows that something continues: 你说下去 go on; 坚持下去 keep going.
出来 shows that something becomes clear or is worked out: 我想出来了 I’ve figured it out; 你看得出来吗？ can you tell?
看起来 means “it looks…”: 他看起来很累.
Examples
-
听了这个故事，孩子们都笑起来了。
Tīng le zhège gùshi, háizi men dōu xiào qǐlái le.
The children all started laughing at the story.
-
天气慢慢热起来了。
Tiānqì màn màn rè qǐlái le.
It’s slowly getting warmer.
-
你说得很好，说下去。
Nǐ shuō de hěn hǎo, shuō xiàqù.
You’re doing well, go on.
-
这个问题我想出来了。
Zhège wèntí wǒ xiǎng chūlái le.
I’ve worked this problem out.
-
你看起来有点儿累。
Nǐ kàn qǐlái yǒudiǎnr lèi.
You look a bit tired.
Words in these examples (25)
| 听 | tīng | to listen; to hear | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 故事 | gùshi | story | HSK 3 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 1 |
| 们 | men | (plural ending for people, as in 我们) | HSK 1 |
| 都 | dōu | all; both | HSK 1 |
| 笑 | xiào | to laugh; to smile | HSK 2 |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to get up; to stand up | HSK 2 |
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | HSK 1 |
| 慢 | màn | slow | HSK 2 |
| 热 | rè | hot | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 得 | de | (particle after a verb before a description of how it is done, as in 说得很好) | HSK 2 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 下去 | xiàqù | to go down; to go on (doing) | HSK 2 |
| 问题 | wèntí | question; problem | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 出来 | chūlái | to come out | HSK 2 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | a little; somewhat | HSK 1 |
| 累 | lèi | tired | HSK 2 |
Common mistakes
-
✗他开始笑起来。
✓他笑起来了。
起来 already means “start”; 开始 isn’t needed.
-
✗我想起来答案了。（meaning “figured out”）
✓我想出来了。
想出来 = work out; 想起来 = remember.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 天下雨了，外面冷 了。
2. 学汉语很难，但是你一定要坚持 。
3. 他 很年轻。