Compound directional complements

The verbs 上、下、进、出、回、过 combine with 来 / 去 or 起来 to form a compound directional complement after the verb.

The pattern states which way the movement goes.

The forms

Verb + 上 / 下 / 进 / 出 / 回 / 过 + 来 / 去 or verb + 起来

Examples

她(Tā)经(jīng)常(cháng)跑(pǎo)上(shàng)来(lái)找(zhǎo)我(wǒ)玩(wán)。

She often runs up here to play with me.

跑 + 上来 run + come up here

她(tā)she

经(jīng)常(cháng)often

跑(pǎo)上(shàng)来(lái)run up here

找(zhǎo)我(wǒ)玩(wán)come and play with me

Here 上 + 来 is upward + toward the speaker.

楼(Lóu)不(bù)高(gāo)，我(wǒ)们(men)走(zǒu)上(shàng)去(qu)吧(ba)。

The building isn't tall — let's walk up.

走 + 上去 walk + go up there

楼(lóu)不(bù)高(gāo)the building isn't tall

我(wǒ)们(men)we

走(zǒu)上(shàng)去(qu)walk up

吧(ba)a suggesting tone

Here 上 + 去 is upward + away from the speaker.

一(Yì)听(tīng)到(dào)老(lǎo)师(shī)叫(jiào)他(tā)的(de)名(míng)字(zi)，他(tā)就(jiù)站(zhàn)起(qǐ)来(lái)了(le)。

The moment he heard the teacher call his name, he stood up.

站 + 起来 stand + upward movement

一(yì)听(tīng)到(dào)the moment he heard

老(lǎo)师(shī)叫(jiào)他(tā)的(de)名(míng)字(zi)the teacher called his name

他(tā)就(jiù)he immediately

站(zhàn)起(qǐ)来(lái)了(le)stood up

Here 起来 marks the upward movement.

With an object

When the verb takes an object, the kind of object matters.

1. If the object is a place, it goes before 来 / 去.

Verb + direction + place + 来 / 去

同(Tóng)学(xué)们(men)都(dōu)走(zǒu)出(chū)教(jiào)室(shì)去(qù)了(le)。

The classmates all walked out of the classroom.

走 + 出 + 教室 + 去 walk + out + classroom + away

同(tóng)学(xué)们(men)the classmates

都(dōu)all

走(zǒu)出(chū)教(jiào)室(shì)去(qù)walk out of the classroom

Here 教室 is a place, so it comes before 去.

2. If the object is a thing, it may go either before or after 来 / 去.

妈(Mā)妈(ma)让(ràng)我(wǒ)买(mǎi)回(huí)一(yì)些(xiē)菜(cài)来(lái)。

Mum asked me to buy some vegetables and bring them back.

买 + 回 + 一些菜 + 来 buy + back + some vegetables + here

妈(mā)妈(ma)让(ràng)我(wǒ)Mum asked me to

买(mǎi)回(huí)buy and bring back

一(yì)些(xiē)菜(cài)some vegetables

来(lái)here

Here 一些菜 is a thing, so it comes before 来.

白(Bái)家(Jiā)月(yuè)从(cóng)书(shū)包(bāo)里(lǐ)找(zhǎo)出(chū)来(lái)一(yí)个(ge)漂(piào)亮(liang)的(de)本(běn)子(zi)。

Bai Jiayue found a pretty notebook in her bag and took it out.

找 + 出来 + 一个漂亮的本子 look for + bring out + a pretty notebook

从(cóng)书(shū)包(bāo)里(lǐ)from inside the bag

找(zhǎo)出(chū)来(lái)find and take out

一(yí)个(ge)漂(piào)亮(liang)的(de)本(běn)子(zi)a pretty notebook

Here the object comes after 来 / 去.

Quick rule

Verb + 上 / 下 / 进 / 出 / 回 / 过 + 来 / 去

Meaning: it states the exact direction of the movement.

跑上来 — run up here 走上去 — walk up there 走出教室去 — walk out of the classroom

Verb + 起来

站起来 — stand up

Object is a place: verb + direction + place + 来 / 去

Object is a thing: verb + direction + thing + 来 / 去 or verb + direction + 来 / 去 + thing