The simple directional complement

The basic structure of the simple directional complement:

动词 + 来 / 去 verb + 来 / 去

来(lái)the action moves toward the speaker

去(qù)the action moves away from the speaker

The verbs most often used in this pattern are:

上、下、进、出、回、过

来 versus 去

Verb + 来 The movement comes this way, toward the speaker

Verb + 去 The movement goes that way, away from the speaker

Examples

我(Wǒ)不(bú)上(shàng)去(qu)了(le)，就(jiù)在(zài)下(xià)面(miàn)等(děng)你(nǐ)。

I won't come up, I'll wait for you downstairs.

上 + 去 go up + away from the speaker

上(shàng)去(qu)go up (away)

下(xià)面(miàn)downstairs

等(děng)你(nǐ)wait for you

Here the speaker is downstairs and the listener upstairs, so 上去 is used.

家(Jiā)月(yuè)到(dào)下(xià)边(bian)了(le)，你(nǐ)下(xià)去(qu)接(jiē)她(tā)吧(ba)。

Jiayue has got downstairs — go down and meet her.

下 + 去 go down + away from the speaker

家(Jiā)月(yuè)到(dào)下(xià)边(bian)了(le)Jiayue has got downstairs

你(nǐ)下(xià)去(qu)go down

接(jiē)她(tā)meet her

Here both are upstairs; going down moves away from the speaker, so 下去.

我(Wǒ)在(zài)外(wài)边(bian)呢(ne)，你(nǐ)出(chū)来(lái)吧(ba)。

I'm outside — come on out.

出 + 来 come out + toward the speaker

我(wǒ)在(zài)外(wài)边(bian)呢(ne)I'm outside

你(nǐ)出(chū)来(lái)吧(ba)come out

Here the speaker is outside and the listener inside; the listener comes toward the speaker, so 出来.

With other verbs

These verbs also combine with 来 / 去:

叫、开、买、拿、请、送、要、找、走

她(Tā)拿(ná)来(lái)一(yì)本(běn)中(Zhōng)文(wén)书(shū)。

She brought a Chinese book.

拿 + 来 take + this way

拿(ná)来(lái)bring

一(yì)本(běn)中(Zhōng)文(wén)书(shū)a Chinese book

你(Nǐ)别(bié)过(guò)来(lái)拿(ná)了(le)，我(wǒ)给(gěi)你(nǐ)送(sòng)去(qu)。

Don't come over for it — I'll bring it to you.

过 + 来 come over here

送 + 去 take it over

别(bié)过(guò)来(lái)拿(ná)了(le)don't come over to get it

我(wǒ)给(gěi)你(nǐ)送(sòng)去(qu)I'll bring it to you

The special case of “起来”

“起来” (qǐlái) is a special form. It can mean: to get up; or to show upward movement.

今(Jīn)天(tiān)早(zǎo)上(shang)5点(wǔ)她(diǎn)就(tā)起(jiù)来(qǐ)了(lái)。

She got up at five this morning.

今(jīn)天(tiān)早(zǎo)上(shang)5点(wǔ)at five this morning

她(tā)就(jiù)起(qǐ)来(lái)了(le)she got up

Here 起来 means “to get up”.

你(Nǐ)起(qǐ)来(lái)吧(ba)，让(ràng)小(xiǎo)妹(mèi)妹(mei)坐(zuò)这儿(zhèr)。

Get up, let the little girl sit here.

你(nǐ)起(qǐ)来(lái)吧(ba)get up

让(ràng)小(xiǎo)妹(mèi)妹(mei)坐(zuò)这儿(zhèr)let the little girl sit here

Quick rule

Verb + 来 The action moves toward the speaker.

出来 — come out (this way) 拿来 — bring

Verb + 去 The action moves away from the speaker.

上去 — go up 下去 — go down 送去 — take it over

起来 to get up, or to mark upward movement