Coming & Going: Chinese Simple Directional Complements (来/去)
来 for 'here' and 去 for 'there' after your main verb.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {来|lái} for movement toward the speaker and {去|qù} for movement away from the speaker.
- Add {来|lái} after a verb if the action moves toward you: {他走来|tā zǒu lái} (He walks toward me).
- Add {去|qù} after a verb if the action moves away from you: {他走去|tā zǒu qù} (He walks away).
- In questions, use {来|lái} or {去|qù} to ask about the direction of movement.
Overview
Chinese simple directional complements, 来 (lái) and 去 (qù), are fundamental grammatical elements used to express the direction of an action relative to the speaker. They are appended directly after a verb of motion or a verb implying transfer, providing crucial spatial information. Mastering these complements is essential for even basic communication in Chinese, as they are ubiquitous in daily conversation and indicate whether an action moves towards or away from the speaker's current position or perspective.
At its core, this system reflects a speaker-centric view of movement, a linguistic principle deeply embedded in Chinese. Unlike English, where you might simply say "go" or "come," Chinese requires you to specify this relative direction. This isn't merely an optional embellishment; it's a mandatory part of describing virtually any action involving movement.
For A1 learners, understanding 来 and 去 provides the foundational logic for all subsequent directional expressions, including more complex compound directional complements.
Consider the difference between asking someone to bring you something and asking them to take something away. In English, these are distinct verbs. In Chinese, the core verb of "to hold/take" (拿|ná) can be combined with 来 or 去 to convey this directional nuance:
拿来(nálái): Bring (take towards the speaker).拿去(náqù): Take away (take away from the speaker).
This immediate distinction highlights the efficiency and precision of Chinese directional complements.
How This Grammar Works
来 and 去 operates on a simple yet profound principle: the speaker's perspective is the absolute reference point for all movement. This isn't just about your physical location; it also encompasses your current frame of reference or the narrative's focal point. Understanding this 'speaker as the center' concept is key to correctly applying these complements.来(lái) – Towards the Speaker: Use来when the action or movement is directed towards your current location, your general area, or your intended destination. It signifies a movement of "coming" or "approaching." This includes actions where someone or something is brought to you.
去(qù) – Away from the Speaker: Use去when the action or movement is directed away from your current location, your general area, or a point of reference established by you. It signifies a movement of "going" or "departing." This also applies to actions where someone or something is taken away from you.
来 (lái) | Towards | 进来 (jìnlai) | Come in |去 (qù) | Away from | 出去 (chūqù) | Go out |进来 (jìnlai), meaning "to come in."他进来了。(Tā jìnlai le.)- He came in.
出去 (chūqù), meaning "to go out."他出去了。(Tā chūqù le.)- He went out.
来 or 去 indicates the type of movement (e.g., 进 for entering, 出 for exiting, 上 for ascending, 下 for descending), while 来 or 去 specifies its direction relative to the speaker.Formation Pattern
来/去
上 for "up," 下 for "down").
来 / 去
回 (huí - return) + 来 = 回来 (huílái - come back)
上 (shàng - go up) + 去 = 上去 (shàngqù - go up [away from speaker])
过 (guò - pass/cross) + 来 = 过来 (guòlai - come over)
你回来了吗？ (Nǐ huílái le ma?)
请你上去。 (Qǐng nǐ shàngqù.)
你可以过来一下吗？ (Nǐ kěyǐ guòlai yīxià ma?)
来/去
来 / 去
回 (huí - return) is often used with a location.
回 (huí - return) + 家 (jiā - home) + 去 = 回家去 (huíjiāqù - go home [away from speaker])
上 (shàng - go up) + 楼 (lóu - upstairs) + 来 = 上楼来 (shànglóu lái - come upstairs [towards speaker])
进 (jìn - enter) + 办公室 (bàngōngshì - office) + 去 = 进办公室去 (jìn bàngōngshì qù - go into the office [away from speaker])
我明天回家去。 (Wǒ míngtiān huíjiāqù.)
她上楼来了。 (Tā shànglóu lái le.)
请你进教室来。 (Qǐng nǐ jìn jiàoshì lái.)
回去了家 or 上来楼 as this breaks the essential "location sandwich" rule. This is a common mistake that immediately signals a non-native speaker.
来/去 + Object OR Verb + Object + 来/去
来 / 去 + [Object]
拿 (ná - take/hold) + 来 + 书 (shū - book) = 拿来书 (nálái shū - bring the book)
送 (sòng - send/give) + 去 + 文件 (wénjiàn - document) = 送去文件 (sòngqù wénjiàn - send the document away)
来 / 去
带 (dài - bring/carry) or 拿 (ná - take/hold).
带 (dài - bring/carry) + 钱 (qián - money) + 来 = 带钱来 (dài qián lái - bring money here)
拿 (ná - take/hold) + 伞 (sǎn - umbrella) + 去 = 拿伞去 (ná sǎn qù - take the umbrella away)
你能把手机拿过来吗？ (Nǐ néng bǎ shǒujī ná guòlai ma?)
老师把作业带去了办公室。 (Lǎoshī bǎ zuòyè dàiqù le bàngōngshì.)
请你把这些文件送去。 (Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhèxiē wénjiàn sòngqù.)
把 (bǎ) construction is very common when the object is directly affected by the action and is explicitly mentioned. The 把 structure places the object before the verb-complement unit, clarifying its role.
把 + [Object] + [Verb] + 来/去
请把那本书拿过来。 (Qǐng bǎ nà běn shū ná guòlai.)
了 (le) is very common with directional complements to indicate a completed action. It usually appears at the end of the sentence or clause.
他上去了。 (Tā shàngqù le.)
我们都回来了。 (Wǒmen dōu huílái le.)
When To Use It
来 and 去 are indispensable for precisely describing movement in Chinese. You'll encounter and use them in virtually any situation involving spatial change, whether physical or, in more advanced contexts, abstract. For A1 learners, focus strictly on physical movement.来 and 去:- Describing physical movement to/from the speaker's current location: This is the most direct and frequent use. If someone is approaching you, use
来. If they are departing from your location, use去. - When your friend rings your doorbell:
你进来了！(Nǐ jìnlai le! - You've come in!) - When you are leaving a party:
我要先出去了。(Wǒ yào xiān chūqù le. - I need to go out first.)
- Describing movement towards or away from a place where the speaker intends to be or is talking about as a reference point: The speaker doesn't need to be physically present at the final destination to use
来or去. Their intention or conversational focus can establish the reference point. - You are at work, calling your spouse who is coming home:
你什么时候回来？(Nǐ shénme shíhou huílái? - When are you coming back [home, to where I will be]?) - You are planning a trip to Beijing with a friend:
我们一起去北京吧。(Wǒmen yīqǐ qù Běijīng ba. - Let's go to Beijing together.) (Here, Beijing is the destination away from your current location, hence去.)
- Indicating the direction of an object being moved (bringing/taking): Many verbs like
拿(ná - take/hold),带(dài - bring/carry),送(sòng - send/give),寄(jì - mail/send) frequently combine with来or去. - Asking someone to pass you something:
请把盐递过来。(Qǐng bǎ yán dì guòlai. - Please pass the salt over [to me].) - Taking a package to the post office:
我要把包裹送去邮局。(Wǒ yào bǎ bāoguǒ sòngqù yóujú. - I need to take the package to the post office.)
- With directional verbs that inherently describe movement along a vertical or horizontal axis: Verbs such as
上(shàng - up),下(xià - down),进(jìn - in),出(chū - out),过(guò - across/over),回(huí - return),起(qǐ - rise) are almost always paired with来or去to complete their directional meaning. - When you lift something up towards yourself:
把手举起来。(Bǎ shǒu jǔ qǐlai. - Raise your hand up.) - When someone walks down the stairs away from you:
他走下去了。(Tā zǒu xiàqù le. - He walked down.)
来 and 去 highlights a subtle but profound difference in how Chinese and English speakers conceptualize space and interaction. Chinese naturally encodes the speaker's position into the verb phrase, making the listener constantly aware of the movement's relationship to the conversational center. This creates a more dynamic and immediate spatial awareness in communication.Common Mistakes
来 and 去 are frequent sources of error for Chinese learners. These mistakes often stem from trying to directly translate English concepts or from misidentifying the correct reference point.- Misplacing the Location: This is arguably the most common and glaring error. Learners often place the location after
来/去, mirroring English sentence structure, which is incorrect in Chinese. - Incorrect:
*我回去了家。(Wǒ huíqù le jiā.) - Correct:
我回家去了。(Wǒ huíjiāqù le.) - I went home. - Incorrect:
*请进来教室。(Qǐng jìnlai jiàoshì.) - Correct:
请进教室来。(Qǐng jìn jiàoshì lái.) - Please come into the classroom. - Why it's wrong: In Chinese, the directional complement
来/去modifies the entire verb-object (location) phrase, signifying the direction of the entire action towards or away from the speaker. The location is an integral part of what is being moved towards or away from.
- Confusing
来and去based on the wrong reference point: Learners sometimes choose来or去based on the destination or origin, rather than the speaker's perspective at the moment of speaking or reference. Remember, it's always about you (the speaker/narrative viewpoint). - Scenario: You are at the office. You are talking to your friend about going home.
- Incorrect:
我回来了。(Wǒ huílái le.) - This means "I'm back (here, at the office)." - Correct:
我回去了。(Wǒ huíqù le.) - I'm going back (there, away from the office). - Scenario: You are at home. Your child is at school, texting you.
- Incorrect (from child's perspective):
我放学回家来。(Wǒ fàngxué huíjiā lái.) - This implies the child is coming back to where they are, which is impossible. - Correct (from child's perspective):
我放学回家去。(Wǒ fàngxué huíjiāqù.) - I'm going home after school. - Why it's wrong: The key is to consistently apply the "towards/away from the speaker" rule. If the speaker is at A and moving to B, and B is not the speaker's current location, then the movement is away from the speaker's current location, thus
去.
- Overuse or redundancy with verbs that already imply strong direction: While rare, some verbs inherently include direction and might not always need a directional complement if the context is absolutely clear. However, it's generally safer to include
来/去. - For example,
走(zǒu - to walk) alone implies movement. Adding来/去makes the direction relative to the speaker explicit:走过来(zǒu guòlai - walk over here),走过去(zǒu guòqù - walk over there).
- Confusing Simple Directional Complements with Resultative Complements: This is a crucial distinction. Simple directional complements solely describe direction. Resultative complements describe the outcome or result of an action. They use different particles and serve different grammatical functions.
- Simple Directional Complement:
听到(tīngdào) - This implies hearing something to a specific point or reaching one's ears, not necessarily understanding. 他听到房间里来了。(Tā tīngdào fángjiān lǐ lái le.) - He heard (something and it came) into the room. (Less common, but illustrates到as a directional verb)- Resultative Complement:
听懂(tīngdǒng) - understood by listening (懂means "to understand"). 我听懂了。(Wǒ tīngdǒng le.) - I understood (by listening).- Simple Directional Complement (another example):
买来(mǎilái) - bought and brought here. 他买来了很多水果。(Tā mǎilái le hěn duō shuǐguǒ.) - He bought a lot of fruit and brought it here.- Resultative Complement:
买到(mǎidào) - successfully bought/obtained by buying. 我买到了那本书。(Wǒ mǎidào le nà běn shū.) - I successfully bought that book.- Why the confusion: Both use a second character after the main verb. However, their semantic contributions are entirely different. Directional complements indicate spatial orientation; resultative complements indicate the success or outcome of an action.
Real Conversations
To truly grasp 来 and 去, observing their use in everyday, authentic Chinese communication is vital. These complements are not limited to formal speech; they are deeply integrated into casual conversations, social media, and quick messages.
Here are some examples of how 来 and 去 appear in modern usage:
Scenario 1
Friend A (at home): 你晚上有空吗？过来我家吃饭吧！ (Nǐ wǎnshang yǒu kòng ma? Guòlai wǒ jiā chīfàn ba!)
- Do you have time tonight? Come over to my place to eat!
Friend B (still out): 好的，我吃完饭就过去。 (Hǎo de, wǒ chī wán fàn jiù guòqù.)
- Okay, I'll head over right after I finish eating.
Analysis
过来 because they are inviting Friend B towards Friend A's current location. Friend B uses 过去 because they will be moving away from their current location towards Friend A's location.Scenario 2
Colleague A (at their desk): 麻烦你把那份报告拿过来一下，谢谢！ (Máfan nǐ bǎ nà fèn bàogào ná guòlai yīxià, xièxie!)
- Could you please bring that report over here for a moment, thanks!
Colleague B (getting the report): 没问题，我马上给你送过去。 (Méiwèntí, wǒ mǎshàng gěi nǐ sòng guòqù.)
- No problem, I'll send it over to you right away.
Analysis
拿过来 because they want the report brought towards them. Colleague B uses 送过去 because they are taking the report away from their desk to Colleague A.Scenario 3
Social Media Post (from someone who just arrived home after a long trip):
终于到家了！旅途很累，但我安全回来了。 (Zhōngyú dàojiā le! Lǚtú hěn lèi, dàn wǒ ānquán huílái le.)
- Finally home! The trip was tiring, but I'm back safely.
Analysis
回来了.Scenario 4
Parent
放学了吗？快点回家来！ (Fàngxué le ma? Kuài diǎn huíjiā lái!)- Are you dismissed? Hurry up and come home!
Child
我已经跟同学出去玩了，晚点再回家去。 (Wǒ yǐjīng gēn tóngxué chūqù wán le, wǎndiǎn zài huíjiāqù.)- I'm already out playing with friends, I'll go home later.
Analysis
回家来 (come home towards the parent). The child, away from home, states they are 出去玩了 (went out to play, away from home/speaker's perspective) and will 回家去 (go home, away from current location) later.These examples demonstrate that 来 and 去 are not just abstract rules but integral components of how Chinese speakers express movement and interaction in their daily lives. Paying attention to these nuances in real-world contexts will significantly improve your fluency and naturalness.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can
来and去be used with any verb? - A: No. They are primarily used with verbs of motion (like
走- walk,跑- run,跳- jump,进- enter,出- exit,上- ascend,下- descend,回- return,过- pass) or verbs that imply the transfer or movement of an object (like拿- take/hold,带- bring/carry,送- send/give). You wouldn't use them with verbs like吃(chī - eat) or看(kàn - see) directly, unless those verbs are part of a larger compound expressing a resulting state of movement, which is more advanced.
- Q: What if the speaker's location changes during the conversation?
- A: The choice of
来or去is always based on the speaker's (or the narrative's chosen reference point's) perspective at the moment the action is described. If you start a conversation from location A, your complements are relative to A. If you then move to location B and continue the conversation, your complements will then be relative to B.
- Q: Is it always about the physical speaker? What about fictional narratives or stories?
- A: For A1, focus on the physical speaker. However, in more advanced contexts, the "speaker" can be the implied narrative perspective or a central character around whom the story unfolds. The principle remains the same: movement towards the focal point uses
来, and movement away uses去.
- Q: How do
来and去relate to the more complex compound directional complements (e.g.,上来,下去)? - A: Simple directional complements (
来/去) are the foundational building blocks. Compound directional complements combine a directional verb (上- up,下- down,进- in,出- out,回- return,起- rise,开- open/away) with来or去to form a more specific directional meaning. For example,上来(shànglai) means "to come up (towards the speaker)," and下去(xiàqù) means "to go down (away from the speaker)." You will learn these shortly, building on your understanding of来and去.
- Q: Can these complements be used for abstract ideas, like "coming up with an idea"?
- A: Yes, in more advanced stages of learning,
来and去can extend to abstract meanings. For instance,想起来(xiǎngqilai) means "to recall" or "to remember." However, for A1 learners, it is strongly recommended to stick to concrete, physical movements to build a solid foundation and avoid confusion. Abstract uses often build on a metaphorical extension of physical movement.
- Q: Do I need to use
了(le) with来and去? - A: The perfective particle
了(le) is very common with directional complements when describing a completed action. For instance,我回来了(Wǒ huílái le) means "I have come back" (the action of coming back is completed). However,了is not mandatory; its use depends on whether you want to emphasize the completion of the action or simply state the ongoing movement.
来 and 去 is a cornerstone of Chinese grammar, opening up a world of precise spatial description. Consistent practice and careful attention to the speaker's perspective will make their usage feel intuitive over time.Directional Complement Formation
| Verb | Complement | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
走
|
来
|
Walk toward
|
走来
|
|
走
|
去
|
Walk away
|
走去
|
|
拿
|
来
|
Bring here
|
拿来
|
|
拿
|
去
|
Take there
|
拿去
|
|
跑
|
来
|
Run here
|
跑来
|
|
跑
|
去
|
Run there
|
跑去
|
Common Combinations
| Verb | Direction | Combined |
|---|---|---|
|
上
|
来
|
上来
|
|
下
|
去
|
下去
|
|
进
|
来
|
进来
|
|
出
|
去
|
出去
|
Meanings
These are simple directional complements that indicate the direction of an action relative to the speaker.
Physical movement
Indicates the direction of physical travel or motion.
“{他跑来|tā pǎo lái}”
“{他跑去|tā pǎo qù}”
Abstract direction
Used with abstract verbs to show the orientation of an action.
“{带过来|dài guò lái}”
“{拿去|ná qù}”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + 来/去
|
他走来
|
|
Negative
|
没 + Verb + 来/去
|
他没走来
|
|
Question
|
Verb + 来/去 + 吗？
|
他走来吗？
|
|
Object (Short)
|
Verb + Object + 来/去
|
他带书来
|
|
Object (Long)
|
Verb + 来/去 + Object
|
他带过来书
|
|
Resultative
|
Verb + Complement
|
想出来
|
Formality Spectrum
请过来。 (Calling someone)
快来。 (Calling someone)
过来！ (Calling someone)
来来来！ (Calling someone)
Directional Flow
Toward Me
- 来 Come
Away From Me
- 去 Go
Examples by Level
{他走来。|Tā zǒu lái.}
He walks toward me.
{请进来。|Qǐng jìn lái.}
Please come in.
{他跑去。|Tā pǎo qù.}
He runs away.
{快来！|Kuài lái!}
Come quickly!
{他拿来了一本书。|Tā ná lái le yī běn shū.}
He brought a book here.
{请把水送去。|Qǐng bǎ shuǐ sòng qù.}
Please send the water there.
{他没走来。|Tā méi zǒu lái.}
He didn't walk toward me.
{你什么时候回来？|Nǐ shénme shíhou huí lái?}
When are you coming back?
{他把钥匙带过来了。|Tā bǎ yàoshi dài guò lái le.}
He brought the keys over here.
{我想出这个办法来了。|Wǒ xiǎng chū zhège bànfǎ lái le.}
I figured out this method.
{他跑过去帮他。|Tā pǎo guò qù bāng tā.}
He ran over there to help him.
{请把文件寄来。|Qǐng bǎ wénjiàn jì lái.}
Please mail the documents here.
{这首歌听起来不错。|Zhè shǒu gē tīng qǐlái bùcuò.}
This song sounds good.
{他看起来很累。|Tā kàn qǐlái hěn lèi.}
He looks very tired.
{这件事说起来容易。|Zhè jiàn shì shuō qǐlái róngyì.}
This matter is easy to talk about.
{他把真相说了出来。|Tā bǎ zhēnxiàng shuō le chū lái.}
He revealed the truth.
{他终于把那本书读完了。|Tā zhōngyú bǎ nà běn shū dú wán le.}
He finally finished reading that book.
{这事儿得从长计议。|Zhè shìr děi cóng cháng jì yì.}
This matter needs long-term planning.
{他把心里的想法都说了出来。|Tā bǎ xīnlǐ de xiǎngfǎ dōu shuō le chū lái.}
He poured out his inner thoughts.
{他走起路来像个军人。|Tā zǒu qǐ lù lái xiàng gè jūnrén.}
He walks like a soldier.
{他那副样子看起来滑稽极了。|Tā nà fù yàngzi kàn qǐlái huájī jí le.}
His appearance looked extremely funny.
{这件事儿传开了。|Zhè jiàn shìr chuán kāi le.}
This matter has spread widely.
{他把那段历史讲了出来。|Tā bǎ nà duàn lìshǐ jiǎng le chū lái.}
He recounted that piece of history.
{这套理论流传至今。|Zhè tào lǐlùn liúchuán zhìjīn.}
This theory has been passed down to this day.
Easily Confused
Learners often mix up the perspective.
Using them as main verbs vs complements.
Mixing up directional and resultative.
Common Mistakes
他走。
他走来。
他来走。
他走来。
他去来。
他走去。
他跑。
他跑去。
他带书去。
他把书带去。
他没走去吗？
他没走去。
他进。
他进来。
他想出来办法。
他想出办法来了。
他带了过来书。
他把书带过来了。
听起来好。
听起来不错。
他走起路来像军人。
他走起路来像个军人。
这事儿传开。
这事儿传开了。
他讲出历史。
他把历史讲了出来。
Sentence Patterns
他___来。
请把___带去。
这事儿说___容易。
他把真相说___了。
Real World Usage
请送来。
快来！
请带过来。
走去火车站。
看过来！
拿来。
Perspective Check
Don't Overuse
Combine Verbs
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always ask: 'Am I the destination?'
Put the object between the verb and complement.
Think of the 'direction' of the thought.
Focus on the tone of the complement.
Pronunciation
Tone of 来
来 is second tone (lái).
Tone of 去
去 is fourth tone (qù).
Command
快来！ (Falling tone)
Urgency
Memorize It
Mnemonic
来 (lái) looks like a person with arms open saying 'come here', while 去 (qù) looks like someone walking away.
Visual Association
Imagine a magnet. If the action is attracted to you, it's 来. If it's repelled, it's 去.
Rhyme
Toward me is 来, away is 去, use them right, it's easy to see!
Story
I am standing at the park gate. My friend runs toward me (跑来). I give him a ball, and he runs away (跑去) to play with his dog.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, narrate your movements: 'I am walking to the kitchen (走去), I am picking up a cup (拿来)'.
Cultural Notes
Very common in daily life for directions.
Similar usage, slightly more polite particles.
Often use different particles but follow the same logic.
These are ancient verbs of motion that evolved into grammatical markers.
Conversation Starters
你什么时候回来？
他跑去哪儿了？
你怎么想出这个办法的？
这首歌听起来怎么样？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
他走___。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他来走。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
He walks toward me.
Answer starts with: a...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
跑 + 来
A: 你什么时候回来？ B: 我___。
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises他走___。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他来走。
来 / 他 / 走
He walks toward me.
来 vs 去
跑 + 来
A: 你什么时候回来？ B: 我___。
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises外面太热了，快进___吧！
我想回去家休息。
回来 / 他 / 已经 / 了 / 学校
Go out!
Which is correct?
Match the following:
小猫从桌子上跳___了。(The kitten jumped down from the table - speaker is on the floor).
把那本书拿来去。
快递送___了。
回去 / 请 / 教室 / 你
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
来 is toward the speaker, 去 is away.
Mostly motion verbs.
Usually between verb and complement.
It's neutral.
Check your perspective.
Yes, 上, 下, 进, 出.
带过来.
Yes, very common.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Venir/Ir
Chinese uses them as complements, Spanish as main verbs.
Venir/Aller
Chinese suffix vs French main verb.
Kommen/Gehen
Prefix vs Suffix.
くる/いく
Japanese particle usage.
جاء/ذهب
Verb vs Complement.
来/去
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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Overview `出来 (chūlái)` is a fascinating and fundamental element in Chinese grammar, acting as a **Result Complement**...
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Overview The 把 (bǎ) construction is a defining feature of Chinese grammar that fundamentally alters sentence structure...
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Going Out and Away (出去)
Overview `出去` (chūqù) functions as a crucial **compound directional complement** in Chinese, providing precise spatial...
Coming In Toward You: 进来 (jìnlái)
Overview `进来 (jìnlái)` is a fundamental compound directional complement in Chinese, crucial for expressing movement *i...
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