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HSK 3

趋向补语2

qū xiàng bǔ yǔ 2

Complex directional complement 2

Explanation

The compound directional complement (complement: an element placed after the verb to add meaning; compound directional = indicating direction, made of TWO characters) is a two-character phrase placed after the verb to show which DIRECTION the action moves in. It combines a direction character (出 out, 过 across, 回 back, 进 in, 起 up, 上 up, 下 down) with 来 (lái, toward the speaker) or 去 (qù, away from the speaker).

Structure

verb + [出/过/回/进/起/上/下] + [来/去]. For example 拿出来 (ná chū lái, take out toward here), 走过去 (zǒu guò qù, walk over there), 跑上去 (pǎo shàng qù, run up there).

When to use

来 when the direction is toward the speaker (out here, up here); 去 when the direction is away from the speaker (out there, down there).

Note

when there is an object (the target of the action), its position is quite flexible and all three ways are correct, with the same meaning: after the whole phrase (拿了一本书出来), inserted between the two direction characters (拿出一本书来), or after the whole complement (拿出来一本书). However, an object indicating a PLACE (e.g. 教室, 二楼) must stand in the MIDDLE, before 来/去: 走出教室去, 跑上二楼去.

Common mistakes

using 来/去 the wrong way around relative to the speaker's position; placing a place object after 来/去 (wrong "走出去教室", correct is 走出教室去).

Examples

（1）复合趋向补语的趋向意义用法：动词+出来/出去/过来/过去/回来/回去/进来/进去/起来/上来/上去/下来/下去(1) The directional-meaning use of the compound directional complement: verb + 出来/出去/过来/过去/回来/回去/进来/进去/起来/上来/上去/下来/下去 (out here/out there/over here/over there/back here/back there/in here/inside/up (rising)/up here/up there/down here/down there).

他从书包里拿了一本书出来。
tācóngshūbāolǐnáleyìběnshūchūlái。

He took a book out of his backpack. (the object 一本书 sits BETWEEN the verb and the complement 出来: 拿了一本书出来)

他从书包里拿出一本书来。
tācóngshūbāolǐnáchūyìběnshūlái。

He took a book out of his backpack. (the object 一本书 is inserted BETWEEN the two halves of the complement: 拿出一本书来)

他从书包里拿出来一本书。
tācóngshūbāolǐnáchūláiyìběnshū。

He took out a book from his backpack. (the object 一本书 comes AFTER the whole complement 出来: 拿出来一本书)

他慢慢地走出教室去了。
tāmànmàndezǒuchūjiàoshìqùle。

He slowly walked out of the classroom.

汽车开过来了，咱们准备上车。
qìchēkāiguòláile，zánmenzhǔnbèishàngchē。

The car is coming, let's get ready to board.

他在桥那边，我们走过去吧。
tāzàiqiáonàbiān，wǒmenzǒuguòqùba。

He's on the other side of the bridge, let's walk over there.

我昨天买回来了一些水果。
wǒzuótiānmǎihuíláileyìxiēshuǐguǒ。

Yesterday I bought back some fruit.

这儿离学校很近，我们走回去吧。
zhèrlíxuéxiàohěnjìn，wǒmenzǒuhuíqùba。

This place is very close to school, let's walk back.

外边的桌子你搬进来了没有？
wàibiandezhuōzinǐbānjìnláileméiyǒu？

Have you carried in the table from outside?

桌子我还没搬进来。
zhuōziwǒháiméibānjìnlái。

I still haven't carried the table in.

这些书不能放在外边，应该拿进去。
zhèxiēshūbùnéngfàngzàiwàibian，yīnggāinájìnqù。

These books can't be left outside, they should be brought inside.

你站起来。
nǐzhànqǐlái。

Stand up.

你的电脑拿上来了没有？
nǐdediànnǎonáshàngláileméiyǒu？

Have you brought your computer up here?

他突然跑上二楼去了。
tātūránpǎoshàngèrlóuqùle。

He suddenly ran up to the second floor.

他从二楼走下来了。
tācóngèrlóuzǒuxiàláile。

He came down from the second floor.

行李你帮我拿下去吧。
xínglinǐbāngwǒnáxiàqùba。

Please help me carry the luggage downstairs.

Practice

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Learn “趋向补语2” effectively

The grammar point “趋向补语2” (Complex directional complement 2) is one of the key structures at HSK 3. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.

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