Skip to content
HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min read

Extended Directional Complements

Read movement, return, continuation, and perspective in longer verb phrases.

Pattern

Verb + 上/下/进/出/回/过 + 来/去

Use direction complements for literal and abstract movement.

他想出来一个好办法。

When to use Extended Directional Complements

Directional complements can show actual movement toward or away from the speaker, but they also extend to abstract changes like 想起来 and 坚持下去.

请走进去。

Please go in.

请继续说下去。

Please keep speaking.

他跑回来了。

He ran back here.

这个故事听起来很有意思。

This story sounds interesting.

Common traps

  • 来/去 depends on speaker viewpoint.
  • Directional complements often have abstract meanings.
  • Do not translate every direction word literally if the sentence is abstract.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

他想 一个好办法

Missing grammar piece
Meanings
come out; emerge