起来 (qǐlái) comes up very frequently in Chinese and can be used both literally and figuratively. This is a little like the usage of "up" in English, which can be used literally, as in "stand up," or figuratively, as in "add up." When used figuratively, 起来 often serves as a [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement direction complement]. == Basic Meaning == === Structure === 起来 can be used to express an upward movement like "up," as in the English examples of "stand up" or "pick up." === Examples === == Used for Initiation of an Action == === Structure === 起来 can also be used to show that an action or state has started and is ongoing: === Examples === When used like this, 起来 is only used with spontaneous actions, like 唱 (chàng), 跳 (tiào), 聊 (liáo), or with states like 热 (rè), 冷 (lěng), or 好 (hǎo) etc. It cannot be used with planned actions. It can also used as a way to encourage people to start doing something immediately: == Used for an Initial Judgement == 起来 is used here to express that the speaker has only just initiated an action, and based on that, has made a preliminary judgement. It is used in the following structure: === Structure === This expresses that the subject seems ''adjective'' when the action of the verb is performed. This structure is frequently used with perception verbs such as 看, 听, 闻, 尝, etc. === Examples === == See also == * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement_%22xiaqu%22 Result complement "xiaqu"] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_result_complements Advanced result complements] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement Direction complement] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Appearance_with_%22kanqilai%22 Appearance with "kanqilai"] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%99%BE%E9%A1%B9%E8%AE%B2%E7%BB%83_-_%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7) Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)] (pp. 25-31) [ →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Boya_Chinese_Elementary_Starter_2_(%E5%8D%9A%E9%9B%85%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%88%9D%E7%BB%8F%E8%B5%B7%E6%AD%A5%E7%AF%87) Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)] (pp. 80) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617 →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_5_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC5) New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5)] (pp. 134-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561914083/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561914083 →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8B%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）] (pp. 355-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2 Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2] (pp. 20) [http://amzn.to/2ftpILV →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK_Standard_Course_5%E4%B8%8A HSK Standard Course 5上] (pp. 36) [https://amzn.to/2rwwnu1 →buy] === Websites === * Yale: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/directional/grammar/direction-3a.htm Extended meaning of some directional complements]