The simple directional complement

The basic structure of the simple directional complement:

动词 + 来 / 去 verb + 来 / 去

来láithe action moves toward the speaker

去qùthe 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

我不上去了，就在下面等你

上去shàngqugo up (away)

下面xiàmiàndownstairs

等你děng nǐwait for you

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

家月到下边了，你下去接她吧

家月到下边了Jiāyuè dào xiàbian leJiayue has got downstairs

你下去nǐ xiàqugo down

接她jiē tāmeet her

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

我在外边呢，你出来吧

我在外边呢wǒ zài wàibian neI'm outside

你出来吧nǐ chūlái bacome 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

她拿来一本中文书

拿来ná láibring

一本中文书yì běn Zhōngwén shūa Chinese book

你别过来拿了，我给你送去

过 + 来 come over here

送 + 去 take it over

别过来拿了bié guòlái ná ledon't come over to get it

我给你送去wǒ gěi nǐ sòngquI'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.

今天早上5点她就起来了

今天早上5点jīntiān zǎoshang wǔ diǎnat five this morning

她就起来了tā jiù qǐlái leshe got up

Here 起来 means “to get up”.

你起来吧，让小妹妹坐这儿

你起来吧nǐ qǐlái baget up

让小妹妹坐这儿ràng xiǎo mèimei zuò zhèrlet 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