Compound complements of direction

In Chinese, a compound complement of direction (verb + 上/下/进/出/回/过/起 + 来/去) indicates the direction of an action and its movement relative to the speaker (来 = toward the speaker, 去 = away from the speaker).

Grammar Rules

1. Place as object: when the object is a location or place, it must be placed before 来 (lái) or 去 (qù).

Verb + 进 / 出 / 下... + Place + 来 / 去

2. General item as object: when the object is a regular item, it can be placed either before or after 来 / 去.

Completed action: if the action is already completed and fulfilled, the object usually goes after 来/去 + 了.

1. Basic Examples

老(Lǎo)师(shī)拿(ná)出(chū)一(yì)本(běn)书(shū)来(lai)。

The teacher took out a book.

小(Xiǎo)狗(gǒu)从(cóng)房(fáng)间(jiān)跑(pǎo)出(chū)来(lai)。

The puppy ran out of the room.

我(Wǒ)给(gěi)你(nǐ)拿(ná)过(guò)去(qù)吧(ba)。

Let me bring it over to you.

坐(Zuò)久(jiǔ)了(le)还(hái)可(kě)以(yǐ)站(zhàn)起(qǐ)来(lái)休(xiū)息(xi)一(yí)会儿(huìr)。

After sitting for a long time, you can stand up and rest for a bit.

2. Location as the object (place comes before 来/去)

老(Lǎo)师(shī)走(zǒu)进(jìn)教(jiào)室(shì)来(lai)。

The teacher walked into the classroom.

弟(Dì)弟(di)跑(pǎo)下(xià)楼(lóu)去(qù)。

The younger brother ran downstairs.

周(Zhōu)太(tài)太(tai)走(zǒu)进(jìn)咖(kā)啡(fēi)店(diàn)去(qù)。

Mrs. Zhou walked into the coffee shop.

下(Xià)课(kè)了(le)，同(tóng)学(xué)们(men)走(zǒu)出(chū)教(jiào)室(shì)去(qù)。

Class was over, and the students walked out of the classroom.

3. General item as the object (both positions are valid)

哥(Gē)哥(ge)买(mǎi)回(huí)一(yí)个(gè)西(xī)瓜(guā)来(lai)。

The older brother bought and brought back a watermelon.

哥(Gē)哥(ge)买(mǎi)回(huí)来(lái)一(yí)个(gè)西(xī)瓜(guā)。

The older brother bought and brought back a watermelon.

请(Qǐng)大(dà)家(jiā)拿(ná)出(chū)笔(bǐ)记(jì)本(běn)来(lai)。

Please take out your notebooks, everyone.

请(Qǐng)大(dà)家(jiā)拿(ná)出(chū)来(lái)笔(bǐ)记(jì)本(běn)。

Please take out your notebooks, everyone.

爸(Bà)爸(ba)从(cóng)国(guó)外(wài)带(dài)回(huí)一(yì)些(xiē)礼(lǐ)物(wù)来(lai)。

Dad brought back some gifts from abroad.

爸(Bà)爸(ba)从(cóng)国(guó)外(wài)带(dài)回(huí)来(lái)一(yì)些(xiē)礼(lǐ)物(wù)。

Dad brought back some gifts from abroad.

小(Xiǎo)刚(gāng)买(mǎi)回(huí)来(lái)很(hěn)多(duō)东(dōng)西(xi)。

Xiaogang bought and brought back a lot of things.

小(Xiǎo)刚(gāng)买(mǎi)回(huí)很(hěn)多(duō)东(dōng)西(xi)来(lai)。

Xiaogang bought and brought back a lot of things.

Important Note: completed actions

When the action has been completed, the particle 了 is used, and the item object is usually placed after 来/去:

哥(Gē)哥(ge)买(mǎi)回(huí)来(lái)了(le)一(yí)个(gè)西(xī)瓜(guā)。

The older brother bought and brought back a watermelon.

爸(Bà)爸(ba)带(dài)回(huí)来(lái)了(le)一(yì)些(xiē)礼(lǐ)物(wù)。

Dad brought back some gifts.