B1 · Mittelstufe Kapitel 6

Direction and Movement

5 Gesamtregeln
51 Beispiele
6 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of spatial navigation and persistence in Chinese movement.

  • Describe complex movements relative to the speaker's position.
  • Express the continuation of an ongoing action over time.
  • Use result complements to describe actions that fix or stop objects.
Move through Chinese with precision and flow.

Was du lernen wirst

Ready to add some serious flow to your Chinese? In this B1 chapter,

Direction and Movement: Navigation and Details,
you're going to master the art of painting vivid pictures with your words, making your sentences sound incredibly natural and precise. Forget just saying go or come—we're diving deep into directional complements like 进来 (jìnlái), 上来 (shànglái), 出去 (chūqù), and 下去 (xiàqù). You'll learn exactly how to describe movement in relation to yourself and others, whether someone is *coming in towards you*, *going up towards you*, *going out and away*, or *continuing an action downwards*. Imagine giving directions like *come up into the house* or saying *please go outside*. But wait, there's more! We'll also unlock the power of the result complement 住 (zhù), which lets you explain when something is *firmly fixed, stopped, or secured*. For instance, how to *tie your shoelaces tight* or *stop the car*—住 makes all the difference! By understanding how these complements connect, you'll upgrade your ability to give crystal-clear instructions, describe dynamic actions with ease, and genuinely sound more like a native speaker. No more vague sentences! After this chapter, you won't just understand movement; you'll *express* it with confidence and flair. Get ready to move your Chinese forward, literally!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to invite someone into a room using correct directional orientation.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to describe an action that is continuing into the future.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to explain when an object has been firmly secured or stopped.

Kapitel-Leitfaden

Overview

Ready to add some serious flow to your Chinese? In this B1 Chinese grammar chapter,
Direction and Movement: Navigation and Details,
you're about to unlock a powerful way to make your sentences sound incredibly natural and precise. At the CEFR B1 level, moving beyond basic vocabulary means mastering how to describe actions in relation to space and the speaker.
Forget just saying go or come—we're diving deep into directional complements like 进来 (jìnlái), 上来 (shànglái), 出去 (chūqù), and 下去 (xiàqù). These aren't just fancy words; they're essential tools that add vivid detail and context to verbs, painting a clear picture of movement.
Understanding these complements allows you to express whether someone is *coming in towards you*, *going up towards you*, *going out and away*, or *continuing an action downwards*. Imagine giving directions like
come up into the house
or saying please go outside. These nuances are crucial for effective communication in Chinese. But wait, there's more!
We'll also unlock the power of the result complement 住 (zhù), which lets you explain when something is *firmly fixed, stopped, or secured*. For instance, how to *tie your shoelaces tight* or *stop the car*—住 (zhù) makes all the difference! By understanding how these complements connect, you'll upgrade your ability to give crystal-clear instructions, describe dynamic actions with ease, and genuinely sound more like a native speaker.
No more vague sentences! After this chapter, you won't just understand movement; you'll *express* it with confidence and flair. Get ready to move your Chinese grammar forward, literally!

How This Grammar Works

In Chinese, verbs often combine with directional complements to show both the direction and the relationship to the speaker. This is a cornerstone of B1 Chinese fluency. Let's break down the core components:
Coming In Toward You: 进来 (jìnlái)
This complement indicates movement *into* a place and *towards* the speaker. The verb precedes it.
Example

他跑进来了。(Tā pǎo jìnlái le.) (He ran in.) – Implies he ran into the speaker's location.

Example

请你把书拿进来。(Qǐng nǐ bǎ shū ná jìnlái.) (Please bring the book in.)

Directional Complement: Up Toward Speaker (上来)
上来 (shànglái) describes movement *upwards* and *towards* the speaker.
Example

她走上来了。(Tā zǒu shànglái le.) (She walked up.) – She walked up to where the speaker is.

Example

把那个箱子搬上来。(Bǎ nàge xiāngzi bān shànglái.) (Move that box up here.)

Going Out and Away (出去)
出去 (chūqù) signifies movement *out of* a place and *away* from the speaker.
Example

他开出去了。(Tā kāi chūqù le.) (He drove out.) – He drove out of the speaker's location.

Example

请你把垃圾倒出去。(Qǐng nǐ bǎ lājī dào chūqù.) (Please take the trash out.)

Continuing Action: 'Down Away' (下去)
下去 (xiàqù) indicates movement *downwards* and *away* from the speaker, or often, the continuation of an action.
Example

你可以继续说下去。(Nǐ kěyǐ jìxù shuō xiàqù.) (You can continue speaking.) – Here it means to continue.

Example

孩子们跑下去了。(Háizimen pǎo xiàqù le.) (The children ran down.) – They ran down to a place away from the speaker.

Result Complement '住' (zhù): Fixing things in place
The result complement 住 (zhù) follows a verb and indicates that an action results in something being *fixed, stopped, or held firmly in place*. This is a crucial element for precise expression in Chinese grammar.
Example

我记住了你的电话号码。(Wǒ jì zhù le nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ.) (I remembered your phone number.) – The number is fixed in memory.

Example

请你站住。(Qǐng nǐ zhàn zhù.) (Please stop standing/stand still.) – The standing action is stopped/held.

Example

把门关住。(Bǎ mén guān zhù.) (Close the door tight.) – The door is closed and secured.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 他进来。(Tā jìnlái.)
✓ Correct: 他进来了。(Tā jìnlái le.)
*Explanation:* Directional complements often combine with aspect particles like 了 (le) to indicate completion of the movement, making the sentence sound natural. Omitting 了 can make it sound incomplete or like a command.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我把书拿来。(Wǒ bǎ shū ná lái.) (I brought the book.)
✓ Correct: 我把书拿进来了。(Wǒ bǎ shū ná jìnlái le.) OR 我把书拿来了。(Wǒ bǎ shū ná lái le.)
*Explanation:* When using 来 (lái) or 去 (qù) with a verb and an object, the object usually comes *before* the directional complement (拿进来), or the directional complement can be simplified to just 来/去 if the context is clear (e.g., 拿来了). Simply saying 拿来 without a clear direction can be ambiguous.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我忘记住你的名字。(Wǒ wàngjì zhù nǐ de míngzi.)
✓ Correct: 我没记住你的名字。(Wǒ méi jì zhù nǐ de míngzi.)
*Explanation:* 住 (zhù) typically combines with verbs like 记 (jì - to remember), 抓 (zhuā - to grasp), 站 (zhàn - to stand), 停 (tíng - to stop), etc., to show the result of the action. 忘记 (wàngjì - to forget) already implies a lack of retention, so 住 is not used with it. Instead, you'd use 没记住 (méi jìzhù - didn't remember/retain).

Real Conversations

A

A

你什么时候回来的？(Nǐ shénme shíhou huí lái de?) (When did you come back?)
B

B

我昨天晚上才回来。(Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang cái huí lái.) (I only came back last night.)
A

A

小心！别让杯子掉下去。(Xiǎoxīn! Bié ràng bēizi diào xiàqù.) (Be careful! Don't let the cup fall down.)
B

B

好的，我抓住了。(Hǎo de, wǒ zhuā zhù le.) (Okay, I've got a firm hold on it.)
A

A

我们可以进去了吗？(Wǒmen kěyǐ jìn qù le ma?) (Can we go in now?)
B

B

请稍等，老师马上就出来。(Qǐng shāoděng, lǎoshī mǎshàng jiù chū lái.) (Please wait a moment, the teacher will come out shortly.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the fundamental difference between 来 (lái) and 去 (qù) in directional complements?

来 (lái) indicates movement *towards* the speaker's current location or perspective, while 去 (qù) indicates movement *away* from the speaker's current location or perspective.

Q

Can 住 (zhù) be used with any verb to mean stop?

Not with *any* verb. 住 (zhù) implies stopping an action that is *ongoing* (e.g., 站住 - stop standing, 停住 - stop moving) or securing/fixing something as a result of an action (e.g., 记住 - remember firmly, 抓住 - grasp firmly). It doesn't typically combine with verbs that already imply a single, non-continuous action or a state.

Q

How do I know if I should use a simple directional complement (来/去) or a compound one (上来/下去)?

Use a compound directional complement (上来, 下去, 进来, 出去, etc.) when you want to specify both the *direction* (up, down, in, out) and the *relation to the speaker* (来 for towards, 去 for away). Simple 来/去 is often used when the direction (e.g., up/down) is already clear from context or the main verb, or when the verb itself implies direction (e.g., 回家来 - come home, 出去 - go out). Compound forms are more explicit.

Cultural Context

These directional and result complements are incredibly pervasive in everyday Chinese. Native speakers use them constantly to convey precise movement and states, often without conscious thought. Mastering them is key to sounding natural and avoiding misunderstandings, especially when giving or following directions.
They reflect a linguistic tendency to be very specific about spatial relationships and the outcome of actions, making conversations much more vivid and clear. This level of detail is a hallmark of conversational fluency in B1 Chinese.

Wichtige Beispiele (2)

1

快进来，外面很冷！

Komm schnell rein, draußen ist es kalt!

Hereinkommen zu dir: 进来 (jìnlái)
2

老师走进教室来了。

Der Lehrer kam ins Klassenzimmer (wo ich bin).

Hereinkommen zu dir: 进来 (jìnlái)

Tipps & Tricks (4)

🎯

Die 'Memory Stick' Regel

Nutze '记住' (jìzhù) für Passwörter oder Namen. Es ist das aktive 'Einprägen', damit es im Kopf bleibt: «请记住这个密码。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ergebnis-Komplement '住' (zhù): Etwas festmachen oder anhalten
💡

Check deine Perspektive

Frag dich immer: 'Wo stehe ich gerade?'. Wenn die Action zu dir hochkommt, ist «上来» die Lösung. Wenn sie weggeht, nimm «上去».
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Richtungskomplement: Nach oben zum Sprecher (上来)
🎯

Die Sandwich-Regel

Merk dir: Orte sind das Fleisch im Sandwich! Sie stehen immer ZWISCHEN 进 und 来. Zum Beispiel: «走进教室来».
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hereinkommen zu dir: 进来 (jìnlái)
⚠️

Die Perspektive zählt

Check immer, wo du stehst! Wenn jemand draußen zu dir kommt, ist es '出来'. Wenn du drinnen bleibst und er geht: «他走出去了。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Raus und weg gehen (出去)

Wichtige Vokabeln (6)

搬 (bān) to move (heavy objects/house) 拿 (ná) to take/hold 坚持 (jiānchí) to persist/insist 记 (jì) to remember/note down 停 (tíng) to stop 跑 (pǎo) to run

Real-World Preview

truck

Helping a Friend Move

Review Summary

  • Verb + 进来 (jìnlái)
  • Verb + 上来 (shànglái)
  • Verb + 出去 (chūqù)
  • Verb + 下去 (xiàqù)
  • Verb + 住 (zhù)

Häufige Fehler

When there is a place object, it must be placed between 'jìn' and 'lái/qù'. You cannot put the object after the whole complement.

Wrong: 他走进房间来 (tā zǒu jìn fángjiān lái)
Richtig: 他走进房间来了 / 他进房间来了 (tā jìn fángjiān lái le)

Students often confuse physical ability with the 'xiàqù' complement, which specifically implies continuation or tolerance of an action.

Wrong: 我听不下去 (wǒ tīng bú xiàqù) meaning 'I can't hear it'.
Richtig: 我听不下去 (wǒ tīng bú xiàqù) meaning 'I can't stand listening anymore'.

Don't confuse the verb 'zhù' (to live) with the complement 'zhù' (fixed). The complement follows another verb to show stability.

Wrong: 我住在北京 (wǒ zhù zài Běijīng) used as a result complement.
Richtig: 我记住你的名字 (wǒ jìzhù nǐ de míngzi)

Next Steps

You've just unlocked a major level of fluency. Describing movement naturally is what separates intermediate learners from beginners. Keep moving forward!

Narrate your walk through your house using directional complements.

Write 5 things you want to '坚持下去' (persist in) this year.

Continue to: Logic, Reasons, and Suggestions

Schnelle Übung (9)

Finde den Fehler im Satz über das Senden einer SMS.

{我已经把短信发出来了。|Wǒ yǐjīng bǎ duǎnxìn fā chūlái le.} (Die SMS verlässt dein Handy)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {我已经把短信发进去了。|Wǒ yǐjīng bǎ duǎnxìn fā chūqù le.}
Infos, die von deinem Handy 'weg' gesendet werden, brauchen '出去', nicht '出来'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Raus und weg gehen (出去)

Fülle die Lücke mit der richtigen Form aus.

Es regnet! Lauf schnell ___ Haus! (Du bist bereits im Haus)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 进房子来 (jìn fángzi lái)
Da du drinnen bist und jemanden zu dir rufst, nutzt du 来. Der Ort (房子) muss zwischen 进 und 来 stehen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hereinkommen zu dir: 进来 (jìnlái)

Welcher Satz ist grammatikalisch richtig?

Ein Hund rennt in dein Zimmer, in dem du gerade sitzt:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 狗跑进房间来了。 (Gǒu pǎojìn fángjiān lái le.)
Der Ort (房间) muss in die Mitte. Da der Hund zu dir kommt, ist 来 korrekt.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hereinkommen zu dir: 进来 (jìnlái)

Finde den Fehler im Satz.

Find and fix the mistake:

Finde den Fehler: 朋友带了礼物进来我家。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Position von 我家 (mein Zuhause)
Der Ort 'mein Zuhause' darf nicht nach '进来' stehen. Es muss heißen: 带进我家来.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Hereinkommen zu dir: 进来 (jìnlái)

Fülle die Lücke mit dem richtigen Komplement aus.

如果你想学好汉语，一定要记____这些生词。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 住
Um Informationen fest im Gedächtnis zu behalten, nutzen wir das Komplement '住' nach dem Verb '记'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ergebnis-Komplement '住' (zhù): Etwas festmachen oder anhalten

Finde den Fehler im Satz über das Anhalten eines Autos.

Find and fix the mistake:

看到红灯，司机把车停。 (Als er das rote Licht sah, hielt der Fahrer das Auto an.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 看到红灯，司机把车停住了。
Um ein festes Anhalten zu beschreiben, fügen wir das Result-Komplement '住' und den Abschlussmarker '了' hinzu.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ergebnis-Komplement '住' (zhù): Etwas festmachen oder anhalten

Welcher Satz beschreibt das Fangen eines Diebes am besten?

Wähle den richtigen Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我抓住了小偷。
Während '抓到' nur das Erreichen bedeutet, betont '抓住', dass du ihn fest im Griff hast und er nicht entkommt.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ergebnis-Komplement '住' (zhù): Etwas festmachen oder anhalten

Wähle die richtige Richtungsergänzung für jemanden, der sich von dir weg nach draußen bewegt.

{他已经从房间里走___了。|Tā yǐjīng cóng fángjiān lǐ zǒu ___ le.}

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 出去
Da die Person sich von innen nach außen (weg von deiner Perspektive) bewegt, ist '出去' korrekt.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Raus und weg gehen (出去)

Welcher Satz platziert das Orts-Objekt 'Büro' (办公室) korrekt?

Wähle den grammatikalisch richtigen Satz:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {他走出了办公室去。|Tā zǒu chū le bàngōngshì qù.}
Bei einem Ort muss dieser zwischen '出' und '去' stehen.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Raus und weg gehen (出去)

Score: /9

Häufige Fragen (6)

Als Result-Komplement bedeutet es 'zum Stoppen' oder 'fest'. Es zeigt, dass eine Aktion zu Stabilität führt, wie in «他抓住了机会。»
Ja, absolut! Es ist zwar das gleiche Zeichen, aber als Komplement beschreibt es den *Zustand* nach einer Handlung, nicht den Wohnort. Ein Beispiel ist «我记住了。»
Es ist ein Mix aus 上 (hoch) und 来 (kommen). Es zeigt an, dass jemand oder etwas von unten zu dir nach oben kommt: «他走上来了。»
Nicht wirklich. Es ist eine Ergänzung, die meistens hinter einem Aktionsverb steht, wie bei 跑上来 (hochrennen).
Dann ist es super einfach! Setz {进来|jìnlái} direkt hinter das Verb. Beispiel: {他跑进来|tā pǎo jìnlái} (Er kam reingerannt).
Manchmal hört man {登进来|dēng jìnlái}, aber der technische Fachbegriff ist meist {登录|dēnglù}.
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