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Extended Use of the Complement of Direction (1): ……下去

In Chinese “下去” (xiàqu) follows a verb or adjective and shows that an action or state already under way carries on.

Core Meaning

Verb / Adjective + 下去

to keep on to keep on in that state to go on doing it from now on

Examples

我今年胖了十多斤，不能再胖下去了

Structure

胖 + 下去 gain weight + keep on 今年 — this year 胖了十多斤 — gained over five kilograms (ten jin) 不能再 — cannot … any more 胖下去 — keep on gaining weight

Here 下去 shows that the gaining of weight would carry on from now on.

她读完了第一个问题，后面的你读下去

Structure

读 + 下去 read + carry on 她读完了第一个问题 — she finished reading the first question 后面的 — what follows / the rest 你读下去 — you carry on reading

Here 读下去 means carrying on the reading that has already begun.

这几天太热了，如果再热下去就不能出门了

Structure

热 + 下去 be hot + stay that way 这几天太热了 — it's been very hot these past few days 如果 — if 再热下去 — if it stays this hot 就不能出门了 — then there'll be no going outside

Here 热下去 shows the hot weather carrying on.

Quick Rule

Verb / Adjective + 下去

Meaning: an action or state that has begun carries on from here.

Examples:

胖下去pàng xiàquto keep on gaining weight
读下去dú xiàquto carry on reading
热下去rè xiàquto stay hot