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 [direction complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/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 ------------------------------------------------------- - [Result complement "xiaqu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement_%22xiaqu%22) - [Advanced result complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_result_complements) - [Direction complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement) - [Appearance with "kanqilai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Appearance_with_%22kanqilai%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)](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)) (pp. 25-31) \[ →buy\] - [Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)](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)) (pp. 80) [→buy](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) - [New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5)](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)) (pp. 134-5) [→buy](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) - [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）](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) (pp. 355-6) [→buy](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) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp. 20) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ftpILV) - [HSK Standard Course 5上](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK_Standard_Course_5%E4%B8%8A) (pp. 36) [→buy](https://amzn.to/2rwwnu1) ### Websites - Yale: [Extended meaning of some directional complements](http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/directional/grammar/direction-3a.htm) \ \