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HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 7 min read 4 focus words

Abstract Directional Complements

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

Abstract Directional Complements cover

Pattern

verb + 出来/起来/下去 for abstract meaning

Use direction words for recognition, memory, and continuation.

我看出来他不太高兴。

When to use Abstract Directional Complements

Directional complements are not always physical. 出来 can show discovery, 起来 can show starting or remembering, and 下去 can show continuation.

我突然想起来还有一封邮件没回。

I suddenly remembered that there was still an email I had not replied to.

请继续说下去。

Please keep speaking.

这个问题听起来不简单。

This problem sounds not simple.

她把重点写出来了。

She wrote out the main points.

Common traps

  • Do not treat 出来, 起来, 下去 as only physical directions.
  • The complement changes with the verb; memorize common pairs.
  • 起来 after adjectives can mean “seems/sounds,” not “stand up.”

Support vocabulary

想起来
xiǎng qǐ lái
→

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

我看 他不太高兴。

I could tell that he was not very happy.
Missing grammar piece
Meanings
out; used for discovery/result