B. Verbs of motion taking a simple directional complement

Verbs of motion such as shàng , xià , jìn , chū , huí , guò , and frequently take lái and as complements. Table 1 below shows lái and suffixed to verbs of motion to show whether the movement is toward the speaker or away from the speaker. In English, the direction of an action is usually indicated by the verbs 'come ' and 'go ', which are represented respectively by the verbs 'lái ' and ‘qù 去 ' in Chinese. Note that as complements lái and have neutral tone when they are attached to verbs except for the verb dào .

Table 1. Simple Directional Complements

verbs of motion

simple directional
complements
shàng

to ascend
xià

to descend
jìn

to enter
chū

to exit
huí

to return
guó

to cross


to rise
dào

to reach
lái

action proceeding
toward the speaker
shànglai

come up
xiàlai

come down
jìnlai

come in(to)
chūlai

come out
huílai

come back
guòlai

come over
lai

get up
dào ...lái
到 ...
come to


action moving away
from where the speaker is
shàngqu

go up
xiàqu

go down
jìnqu

go in(to)
chūqu

go out
huíqu

go back
guòqu

go over
N./A. dào ...
到 ...
go to

The examples below show how these compounds are used in sentences:
    1. shànglai 上来 (to come up)

      image1 Note: The speaker is upstairs. The listener is downstairs.


      Wǒ zài lóushàng, qǐng nǐ shànglai.
      我在楼上,请你上来。
      I 'm upstairs. Please come up.

    2. shàngqu 上去 (to go up)

      Quxiang1d1 Note: Both the speaker and the listener are at the foot of the hill.


      Tīngshuō shān-shang fēngjǐng hěn měi. Nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng shàngqukàn kan.
      听说山上风景很美。你想不想上去看看?
      I heard that the view on the top of the mountain was beautiful. Would you like to go up to take a look?
     

    1. xiàlai 下来 (to come down)

      Quxiang2d1
      Note: The speaker and the listener are downstairs. The speaker tells the listener that he is going upstairs.
       

      Tā zài lóushàng. Wǒ qù jiào tā xiàlai.
      他在楼上。我去叫他下来
      He's upstairs. I 'll go to tell him to come down.
    2.  
    3. xiàqu 下去 (to go down)

      Quxiang2d2
      Note: The speaker and the listener are upstairs. The speaker asks the listener to go downstairs.
       

      Lóuxià yǒu rén jiào mén. Nǐ xiàqu kànkan shì shéi.
      楼下有人叫门。你下去看看是谁。
      Someone is knocking on the door. Go down to see who it is.
     

    1. jìnlai (to come in)

      Quxiang3d1
      Note: The speaker is inside the house asking the listener to come inside.
       

      Wàitou nàme lěng, nǐ kuài jìnlai ba.
      外头那么冷,你快进来吧。
      it's so cold outside. Quickly come in.

    2. jìnqu 进去 (to go in)

      Quxiang3d2
      Note: Both the speaker and the listener are outside the house.
       

      Tài lěng le. Wǒmen kuài jìnqu ba.
      太冷了,我们快进去吧。
      it's too cold. Let 's quickly go in.
     

    1. chūlai (to come out)

      Quxiang4d1
      Note: The speaker is outside the house. The listener is inside.


      Fángzi-li tài rè le. Nǐ kuài chūlai ba.
      房子里太热了,你快出来吧。
      it's too hot in the house. Quickly come out.  



    2. chūqu 出去 (to go out)

      Quxiang4d2
      Note: The speaker and the listener are inside the house.

      Tiānqi zhēn hǎo! Wǒmen chūqu zǒu zou ba.
      天气真好!我们出去走走吧。
      The weather is really nice! Let 's go out and take a walk.
     

    1. huílai 回来 (to come back)

      Quxiang5d1
      Note: The speaker and the listener are at the same place. The speaker is going to take a short trip. He tells the listener he 'll be back in the evening the next day.


      Wǒ míngtiān wǎnshang hlai.
      我明天晚上回来。
      I 'm coming back tomorrow.

    2. huíqu 回去 (to go back)

      Quxiang5d2
      Note: The speaker and the listener are in Shanghai. The speaker tells the listener that he is returning to Beijing the next day.

      Wǒ míngtiān huíqu.
      我明天回去。
      I 'm going back tomorrow.
     

    1. guòlai 过来 (to come over)

      Quxiang6d1
      Note: The speaker asks the listener to come over to where he is.


      Guòlai shì shi zhèi jiàn máoyī.
      过来试试这件毛衣。
      Come over here and try this sweater on.

    2. guòqu 过去 (to go over)

      Quxiang6d2
      Note: The speaker and the listener are not at the lake.


      Tīngshuō nèibiān yǒu yí gè xiǎo hú. Wǒmen guòqu kànkan.
      听说那边有一个小湖,我们过去看看。
      I heard there's a small lake over there. Let 's go over there to take a look.


  1.  
    1. lai 起来 (to rise, to get up)

      Quxiang7d1
      Note: The speaker asks the listener to get out of bed.


      Yǐjīng bā diǎn le. Kuài lai ba.
      已经八点了。快起来吧。
      it's already eight o 'clock. Get up quickly.
     

    1. dào + place + lái 到 ...... 来 (to come to)

      Quxiang8d1
      Note: The speaker is in Beijing.  


      Huānyíng nǐ dào Běijīng lái.
      欢迎你到北京来。
      Welcome (you) to Beijing.

    2. dào + place + 到 ...... 去 (to go to)

      Quxiang8d2
      Note: The speaker is not in France.


      Wǒ hěn xiǎng dào Fǎguó .
      我很想到法国去。
      I very much want to go to France.