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起来

qi lai
HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Verb Very common

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This word has multiple dictionary entries. Choose the reading or usage you want to review.

起来
qi lai Verb (after a verb) indicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state; indicating an upward movement (e.g. after 站[zhàn])
起来
qǐ lai to stand up; to get up

Definitions

  1. 1. (after a verb) indicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state
  2. 2. indicating an upward movement (e.g. after 站[zhàn])
  3. 3. indicating completion
  4. 4. (after a perception verb, e.g. 看[kàn]) expressing preliminary judgment
  5. 5. also pr. [qǐ lai]

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Word relationships

Counterparts

1 item
下去
xià qù

to go down

起来 indicates beginning and continuation of an action, while 下去 indicates continuation from the present onwards

Related words

2 items
起
qǐ

(for groups or occurrences) instance, time

起来 is often used as a compound complement, with 起 indicating the start
上来
shàng lái

to come up

Both are directional complements, but 上来 is often more concrete upward movement

Usage notes

Common mistakes

As a complement, 起来 is placed after the verb, e.g. 唱起歌来 (not 起来唱歌).

Grammar

Guides that feature 起来

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

5 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 6 min
Verb/Adjective + 得 + Phrase or Clause for “So … That …”

After 得, Chinese can add a whole verb phrase, a small clause or a set phrase to show the result: 高兴得跳了起来, 说得大家都笑了, 忘得一干二净.

Reading: qi lai Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 6 min
走进来, 跑出去, 拿回来 for Two-Part Direction Complements

A compound directional complement adds a direction (进, 出, 上, 下, 回, 过, 起) plus 来 or 去 after a verb: 走进来 “walk in (toward me)”, 跑出去 “run out (away from me)”.

Reading: qi lai Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 5 min
这不 for “See? Here’s Proof”

Use 这不 to point to something happening right now that proves what you just said.

Reading: qi lai Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 7 min
Abstract Directional Complements

Practice 看出来, 想起来, 说下去, and other abstract directional complements.

Reading: qi lai Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min
起来

Recognize the flexible complement 起来 in practical sentences.

Reading: qi lai Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown
起来 吧！
Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 797554)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org.

Words Containing 起来

看起来
kàn qǐ lai

seemingly

全世界无产者联合起来
quán shì jiè wú chǎn zhě lián hé qǐ lai

Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt euch!

好起来
hǎo qǐ lai

to get better

想起来
xiǎng qi lai

to remember

拼起来
pīn qi lai

to put together

站起来
zhàn qǐ lai

to stand up

算起来
suàn qǐ lái

to calculate

听起来
tīng qi lai

to sound like

铆起来
mǎo qǐ lai

to get enthusiastic

马尾穿豆腐，提不起来
mǎ wěi chuān dòu fu , tí bu qǐ lai

lit. like tofu strung on horsetail, you can't lift it

Child Words of 起来

起
qǐ

(for groups or occurrences) instance, time

来
lái

to come