A1 · Principiante Capítulo 4

Starting, Continuing, and Revealing

5 Reglas totales
53 ejemplos
6 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master dynamic directional complements to describe how actions start, continue, and reveal hidden information.

  • Use 起来(qǐlái) to trigger the start of an action or express a first impression.
  • Apply 出来(chūlái) to reveal secrets, recognize people, or bring ideas into existence.
  • Manage time and state with 下来(xiàlái) for recording and 下去(xiàqù) for continuing.
Move your verbs forward, downward, and outward!

Lo que aprenderás

Ready to supercharge your Chinese verbs? This chapter is your secret weapon for making your conversations sound natural and dynamic! Don't worry, it's easier than you think and incredibly rewarding. You'll start by mastering '起来' (qǐlái). This versatile complement describes actions or feelings that *spring up* suddenly – like standing up, or happiness welling up inside you. Plus, learn to use it after sensory verbs to express how something *looks* or *sounds*. Next, we dive into '下去' (xiàqù). This handy word is perfect for when you want an action to *continue* from now into the future. Want to tell someone to 'keep talking' or 'keep studying'? '下去' is your go-to! Then, we'll explore '下来' (xiàlái). This complement is all about *capturing* and *preserving*. Use it when you take a photo, write down important information, or describe an action settling into a stable state, like a car *stopping*. Finally, you'll unlock '出来' (chūlái). This powerful complement helps you talk about actions that *bring something new into existence* or *reveal* something previously hidden. Imagine a new idea *coming to mind* or a secret *being uncovered*. These aren't just abstract rules; they're essential for real-life conversations! Picture yourself saying, 'Let's *get up* and go!' (起来), 'Please *continue* your story!' (下去), 'That painting *looks* amazing!' (看起来), or 'I *figured out* the answer!' (出来). You’ll express these with confidence. By the end of this chapter, you’ll add incredible depth and flow to your Chinese, sounding more like a native speaker. Let's make your Chinese shine!

Learning Objectives

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

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to describe the sudden start of an emotion or action using 起来(qǐlái).
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to express sensory impressions (looks like/sounds like) using 起来(qǐlái).
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to use 出来(chūlái) to describe the revelation of information or the creation of something new.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to distinguish between capturing a moment with 下来(xiàlái) and continuing an action with 下去(xiàqù).

Guía del capítulo

Overview

Welcome to your essential guide for mastering dynamic verbs in Chinese grammar A1! This chapter,
Starting, Continuing, and Revealing,
is your secret weapon to making your conversations sound incredibly natural and expressive. As you progress through your A1 Chinese journey, you’ll discover that simply knowing vocabulary isn't enough; how you convey the nuance of an action is key.
That's where these powerful verb complements come in. We'll explore 起来 (qǐlái), 下去 (xiàqù), 下来 (xiàlái), and 出来 (chūlái). These aren't just abstract rules; they’re the building blocks for real-life communication, helping you describe actions that spring up, continue, are preserved, or are revealed.
By understanding these core concepts, you'll add incredible depth and flow to your Chinese, moving beyond basic sentences to truly express yourself. Get ready to supercharge your verbs and sound more like a native speaker!

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the fascinating world of Chinese grammar complements that add incredible depth to your verbs. First up, 起来 (qǐlái) is our Activation Switch. It describes actions or feelings that *spring up* or *start* suddenly. Think of someone standing up: 他站起来了 (Tā zhàn qǐlái le - He stood up).
It also works with emotions, like happiness welling up: 他高兴起来了 (Tā gāoxìng qǐlái le - He became happy). Crucially, 起来 can also be used after sensory verbs to express how something looks like or sounds like: 这个菜闻起来很香 (Zhège cài wén qǐláil hěn xiāng - This dish smells very fragrant).
Next, we have 下去 (xiàqù), the
Magic of 下去(xiàqù)
for continuing actions. If you want an action to *keep going* from now into the future, 下去 is your go-to. For example, 请你继续说下去 (Qǐng nǐ jìxù shuō xiàqù - Please continue speaking).
Or, if you’re studying: 我要学习下去 (Wǒ yào xuéxí xiàqù - I want to keep studying).
Then, meet 下来 (xiàlái), our "Capturing & Preserving" complement. This Chinese resultative complement is all about an action *settling* into a stable state or being *recorded*. Imagine taking a photo: 拍下来 (Pāi xiàlái - To take a photo and keep it).
Or writing something down: 写下来 (Xiě xiàlái - To write it down). It can also indicate a decrease and stabilization, like cooling down: 天气凉下来了 (Tiānqì liáng xiàlái le - The weather cooled down).
Finally, 出来 (chūlái), our "Completing & Revealing" complement. This powerful addition helps you talk about actions that *bring something new into existence* or *reveal* something previously hidden. If an idea comes to mind: 我想出来一个办法 (Wǒ xiǎng chūlái yīgè bànfǎ - I thought of an idea).
Or if you figure something out: 我看出来了 (Wǒ kàn chūlái le - I figured it out / I saw it clearly). It signifies an outcome or a revelation.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 他高兴了 (Tā gāoxìng le) - (He became happy.)
✓ Correct: 他高兴起来了 (Tā gāoxìng qǐlái le) - (He became happy/cheered up.)
*Explanation:* While «高兴了» can mean happy, adding 起来 emphasizes the *sudden onset* or *welling up* of the happiness, making it sound more natural for a change in emotional state.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我写这个字 (Wǒ xiě zhège zì) - (I write this character.)
✓ Correct: 我把这个字写下来 (Wǒ bǎ zhège zì xiě xiàlái) - (I wrote this character down.)
*Explanation:* Simply «写» means to write. Adding 下来 specifically implies writing it *down* for preservation or record, which is a common and important nuance in Chinese.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我看答案 (Wǒ kàn dá'àn) - (I look at the answer.)
✓ Correct: 我看出来答案了 (Wǒ kàn chūlái dá'àn le) - (I figured out the answer.)
*Explanation:* «看» means to look.
看出来
means to *discern* or *figure out* something hidden or previously unclear, bringing it into existence (in your mind).

Real Conversations

A

A

你为什么站起来了？ (Nǐ wèishénme zhàn qǐlái le? - Why did you stand up?)
B

B

我想去喝水。 (Wǒ xiǎng qù hē shuǐ. - I want to go drink water.)
A

A

这个故事很有趣，请你讲下去吧！ (Zhège gùshì hěn yǒuqù, qǐng nǐ jiǎng xiàqù ba! - This story is very interesting, please continue telling it!)
B

B

好的，没问题。 (Hǎo de, méi wèntí. - Okay, no problem.)
A

A

你把我的电话号码记下来了吗？ (Nǐ bǎ wǒ de diànhuà hàomǎ jì xiàlái le ma? - Did you write down my phone number?)
B

B

记下来了，谢谢！ (Jì xiàlái le, xièxie! - Yes, I wrote it down, thanks!)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do you use 起来 to describe how something looks or sounds in A1 Chinese?

You place 起来 directly after a sensory verb like 看 (kàn - to look) or 听 (tīng - to listen), e.g., 这个苹果看起来很好吃 (Zhège píngguǒ kàn qǐlái hěn hǎochī - This apple looks delicious).

Q

What's the main difference between 下去 and 下来 in Chinese grammar?

下去 implies continuation into the future, like keep doing X. 下来 suggests an action settling or being preserved, like write X down or cool down.

Q

Can 出来 be used to mean appear or come out literally?

Yes, absolutely! For example, 太阳出来了 (Tàiyáng chūlái le - The sun came out). It literally means something emerges from inside to outside.

Q

Are these complements always necessary, or can I sometimes omit them?

While you can often convey a basic meaning without them, using these complements adds crucial nuance, specificity, and natural flow to your Chinese sentences. They are essential for sounding like a native speaker.

Cultural Context

These verb complements are incredibly common in everyday Chinese conversation and are key to sounding natural and fluent. Native speakers use them instinctively to convey precise meanings about the initiation, continuation, completion, or revelation of actions. They add a layer of expressiveness that simple verbs alone cannot achieve.
For instance, merely saying «写» (to write) is less specific than
写下来
(to write down for record), reflecting a cultural emphasis on recording and preserving information. Mastering these structures isn't just about grammar; it's about understanding the subtle ways Chinese speakers perceive and describe the world around them.

Ejemplos clave (4)

1

听完那个笑话，大家都笑起来了。

Después de oír el chiste, todos se soltaron a reír.

Arrancando motores: El interruptor de acción (起来)
2

虽然是第一次见面，但他们很快就聊起天来了。

Aunque era la primera vez que se veían, empezaron a charlar rápido.

Arrancando motores: El interruptor de acción (起来)
3

这个蛋糕看起来很好吃。

Este pastel se ve delicioso.

Cómo decir "parece" o "suena como" con 起来
4

你的主意听起来很棒。

Tu idea suena genial.

Cómo decir "parece" o "suena como" con 起来

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

La metáfora de 'Subir'

Visualiza la acción subiendo como el vapor de una olla. {起来|qǐ lái} significa 'levantarse venir'. «笑起来».
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arrancando motores: El interruptor de acción (起来)
💡

El truco de la papelera

Si recuperas algo de tu memoria (como un archivo de la papelera), usa 起来. Pero para inventar algo nuevo, usa 出来: «我想出来一个办法。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Completar y Revelar: Verbo + 出来 (chūlái)
🎯

¡El sujeto va primero!

Nunca empieces la frase con el verbo. Primero di de qué estás hablando y luego cómo se ve. Por ejemplo: «咖啡看起来很好。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cómo decir "parece" o "suena como" con 起来
💡

La regla del botón 'Guardar'

Si puedes imaginar que estás pulsando un botón de 'Guardar' o 'Descargar', probablemente debas usar «下来». Por ejemplo: «把这张图存下来。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Complemento Resultativo Chino: Capturar y Preservar con 'xiàlái' (下来)

Vocabulario clave (7)

笑(xiào) to laugh/smile 听(tīng) to listen/hear 想(xiǎng) to think 记(jì) to remember/record 说(shuō) to speak/say 看(kàn) to look/watch 写(xiě) to write

Real-World Preview

lightbulb

The Creative Brainstorm

Review Summary

  • Verb + 起来 (qǐlái)
  • Verb + 出来 (chūlái)
  • Sensory Verb + 起来 (qǐlái)
  • Verb + 下来 (xiàlái)
  • Verb + 下去 (xiàqù)

Errores comunes

Use 起来 for impressions (looks like). 出来 is for revealing something that was hidden or unknown.

Wrong: 我看出来很好 (Wǒ kàn chūlái hěn hǎo)
Correcto: 看起来很好 (Kàn qǐlái hěn hǎo)

Recording information is seen as 'settling' it onto paper, which uses 下来. 下去 is for continuing an ongoing action.

Wrong: 请记下去 (Qǐng jì xiàqù)
Correcto: 请记下来 (Qǐng jì xiàlái)

起来 marks the sudden start of an action. You cannot use it with a duration of time.

Wrong: 他笑起来了十分钟 (Tā xiào qǐlái le shí fēnzhōng)
Correcto: 他笑了十分钟 (Tā shuō le shí fēnzhōng)

Next Steps

You've just unlocked one of the most unique and powerful features of Chinese grammar. Using these complements will make you sound incredibly fluent and expressive. Keep practicing!

Describe 3 items in your room using 看起来 (kàn qǐlái).

Write 3 things you want to 'keep doing' using 下去 (xiàqù).

Continue to: Can You Do It? Expressing Potential

Práctica rápida (9)

¿Cuál frase es gramaticalmente correcta?

Elige la forma correcta de decir 'Él se ve muy cansado':

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他看起来很累。
El sujeto '他' (Él) debe ir antes de la frase de impresión '看起来' (se ve).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cómo decir "parece" o "suena como" con 起来

¿Qué frase implica identificar algo oculto?

Elige la frase que significa: 'Se nota que es americano'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我看出来他是美国人。
看出来 significa distinguir o identificar algo a través de la observación cuidadosa.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Completar y Revelar: Verbo + 出来 (chūlái)

Completa la frase con la forma correcta de 'empezar a llover'.

我们刚出门，天就___了。 (En cuanto salimos, empezó a llover.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 下起雨来
¡Regla del sándwich! Para 'llover' ({下雨|xià yǔ}), el sustantivo {雨|yǔ} debe ir entre {起|qǐ} y {来|lái}.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arrancando motores: El interruptor de acción (起来)

Rellena el espacio con la forma correcta

El problema de matemáticas era muy difícil, no pude resolverlo. 这道数学题太难了，我算___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 不出来
Necesitamos la forma potencial negativa de 'salir' (resultado) para un cálculo. 不出来 significa ser incapaz de producir el resultado.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Completar y Revelar: Verbo + 出来 (chūlái)

Encuentra y corrige el error en la frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

这个苹果吃起来好。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 这个苹果吃起来很好。
Los adjetivos en chino necesitan una palabra de grado como '很' para sonar completos.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cómo decir "parece" o "suena como" con 起来

Corrige el error

De repente recordé su nombre. 我突然想出来他的名字了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我突然想起来 his name 了。
Para 'recordar' algo de la memoria se usa 想起来. 想出来 implica inventar algo nuevo.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Completar y Revelar: Verbo + 出来 (chūlái)

Rellena el espacio con la impresión sensorial correcta.

这首歌 __ 很好听。 (Esta canción suena muy bien.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 听起来
Como escuchas una canción, debes usar '听' (escuchar) + '起来'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Cómo decir "parece" o "suena como" con 起来

Corrige el error gramatical.

大家听了很高兴，都唱起来歌了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 大家听了很高兴，都唱起歌来了。
No puedes poner el objeto {歌|gē} después de {起来|qǐ lái}. Debe insertarse en la estructura.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arrancando motores: El interruptor de acción (起来)

¿Qué oración describe correctamente 'Ellos empezaron a charlar'?

Elige la oración gramatical:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他们聊起天来了。
{聊天|liáo tiān} es un verbo compuesto. Debes dividirlo: {聊|liáo} + {起|qǐ} + {天|tiān} + {来|lái}.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Arrancando motores: El interruptor de acción (起来)

Score: /9

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

Normalmente no. {起来|qǐ lái} es descriptivo para cosas que ya empezaron. Para planes futuros, usa {开始|kāishǐ}.
Es por los 'verbos separables'. El objeto se mete entre {起|qǐ} y {来|lái} para estar cerca del verbo principal.
想起来 es recordar algo que ya sabías, mientras que 想出来 es crear una idea nueva: 我想出来 un buen plan.
Normalmente no. Se usa con verbos. Para adjetivos usamos 起来 para indicar cambio: «天气冷起来了。»
Literalmente significa 'levantarse'. Gramaticalmente, se une a verbos de los sentidos para expresar cómo percibes algo. Por ejemplo: «看起来».
No, en este contexto debe ir pegado a un verbo como 看 (ver), 听 (oír) o 吃 (comer) para que tenga sentido.
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