HSK 5 grammar · new HSK syllabus
下来, 下去, 起来, 过来: changes of state
静下来 calm down; 胖下去 keep getting fatter; 好起来 get better; 醒过来 come round.
Structure
- Adjective / verb + 下来 / 下去 / 起来 / 过来
How it works
下来 shows something settling into a calmer state: 安静下来, 停下来, 慢下来.
下去 shows a state or action continuing: 再这样下去 if this carries on.
起来 shows a state beginning or increasing: 热起来, 好起来, 忙起来.
过来 shows a return to a normal state: 醒过来, 明白过来.
Examples
-
教室里慢慢安静下来了。
The classroom gradually quietened down.
-
你再这样熬夜下去，身体会受不了。
If you keep staying up late like this, your health will suffer.
-
天气暖和起来了。
The weather’s getting warmer.
-
吃了药，他的病慢慢好起来了。
After taking the medicine, he slowly got better.
-
过了一会儿，他才明白过来。
It took him a while to realise.
Words in these examples (28)
| 教室 | jiàoshì | classroom | HSK 2 |
| 里 | lǐ | inside; in | HSK 1 |
| 慢 | màn | slow | HSK 2 |
| 安静 | ānjìng | quiet | HSK 3 |
| 下来 | xiàlái | to come down | HSK 2 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 1 |
| 这样 | zhèyàng | like this; this way | HSK 2 |
| 熬夜 | áoyè | to stay up late or all night | HSK 5 |
| 下去 | xiàqù | to go down; to go on (doing) | HSK 2 |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | body; health | HSK 2 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 |
| 受不了 | shòubuliǎo | can't stand | HSK 4 |
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | HSK 1 |
| 暖和 | nuǎnhuo | warm | HSK 4 |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to get up; to stand up | HSK 2 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 药 | yào | medicine | HSK 2 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 病 | bìng | illness; to be ill | HSK 1 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 过 | guò | to cross; to pass; to spend (time); to celebrate | HSK 2 |
| 一会儿 | yíhuìr | a moment; in a moment | HSK 2 |
| 才 | cái | only then; only; just | HSK 3 |
| 明白 | míngbai | to understand; clear | HSK 3 |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over | HSK 2 |
Common mistakes
-
✗天气热下来了。
✓天气热起来了。
A state beginning or increasing: 起来.
-
✗大家安静起来。
✓大家安静下来。
Settling down: 下来.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 车慢慢停 了。
2. 最近工作忙 了。
3. 他睡了一会儿，又醒 了。