Chinese Directional Complements: 來／去, 上來／下去, 進去／出來 Explained in Traditional Chinese

方向補語 fāngxiàng bǔyǔ means “directional complements.” In plain English: they are the little endings that tell you whether movement is coming toward the speaker or away from the speaker, and whether it is moving up, down, in, or out. Mandarin loves these tiny pieces. Very efficient. Slightly annoying. Very Mandarin.

For the broader learning path, visit our parent guide.

If you have ever wondered why people say 拿來 ná lái, 拿去 ná qù, 走上來 zǒu shànglái, or 走出去 zǒu chūqù, this guide makes the pattern clear. By the end, you will be able to read and use the most common directional complements without feeling like the sentence is secretly playing a prank on you.

For a broader grammar path, you can also check the main lesson hub at Traditional Chinese learning and the grammar section at Traditional Chinese grammar.

What Directional Complements Do

Directional complements are often attached to verbs of motion. They answer questions like:

• Is the action moving toward me / the speaker?
• Is it moving away?
• Is it going up or down?
• Is it going in or out?

Here is the big idea:

方向補語 fāngxiàng bǔyǔ are not just “directions.” They are perspective words. Mandarin wants to know where the action is going relative to the speaker. Rude, but useful.

1. 來 And 去: Toward Or Away

The simplest pair is 來 lái and 去 qù.

Notice how 來 is often “toward here” and 去 is “away there.” The actual place can be the speaker, the listener, or a shared reference point in the conversation.

Useful 來／去 Phrases

In Taiwan, you will hear these forms all the time in daily life: at convenience stores, in offices, at home, and in random “can you help me move this box?” situations. Basically, everywhere.

2. 上來 And 下去: Vertical Movement

When the motion is vertical, Mandarin often uses 上來 shànglái and 下去 xiàqù.

上來 means “move up toward here” or “come up.”
下去 means “move down away from here” or “go down.”

Useful 上來／下去 Phrases

A small note: 下去 also has a non-literal use meaning “to continue in a downward or ongoing way,” like in 說下去 shuō xiàqù, “continue speaking,” or 做下去 zuò xiàqù, “keep doing it.” That is a sneaky extra meaning, because Mandarin enjoys making one form do several jobs.

3. 進去 And 出來: In And Out

For entering and exiting, the most common pair is 進去 jìnqù and 出來 chūlái.

進去 means “go in / enter.”
出來 means “come out / exit.”

Useful 進去／出來 Phrases

How The Speaker’s Viewpoint Works

The key to these forms is not just “direction.” It is viewpoint. Think of the speaker as the reference point.

• 來 = toward the speaker or listener’s shared space
• 去 = away from the speaker’s space
• 上來 = upward movement toward the speaker
• 下去 = downward movement away from the speaker
• 進去 = movement into an inside space
• 出來 = movement out from inside space

For example, if you are standing downstairs and say 你上來 nǐ shànglái, you mean “come up here.” If you are upstairs and tell someone on the roof 你下去 nǐ xiàqù, you mean “go down.” Same sentence shape, different viewpoint. Mandarin loves this little trick.

Grammar Pattern Cheat Sheet

Pronunciation And Tone Notes

These forms are usually spoken smoothly as one unit:

• 上來 shànglái
• 下去 xiàqù
• 進去 jìnqù
• 出來 chūlái

In fast speech, the first syllable and the complement can sound tightly linked, almost like one word. That is normal. Do not over-separate them like a robot reading a train schedule.

Also note the common pronunciation change in 不 bù and 一 yī in many everyday phrases. For example:

• 看不出來 kàn bu chūlái — the 不 often becomes neutral tone before another tone.
• 一下去 yí xiàqù — 一 can change tone in context.

You do not need to memorize every phonetic detail on day one. Just listen for the rhythm, and your mouth will gradually stop fighting you.

Practice: Fill In The Direction

Choose the best complement: 來, 去, 上來, 下去, 進去, or 出來.

• 1. 請把椅子搬＿＿＿。
  Qǐng bǎ yǐzi bān ______.
  Please move the chair here.
• 2. 他從房間走＿＿＿了。
  Tā cóng fángjiān zǒu ______ le.
  He walked out of the room.
• 3. 小朋友跑＿＿＿，去玩了。
  Xiǎopéngyǒu pǎo ______, qù wán le.
  The kid ran in to play.
• 4. 你先下樓，再走＿＿＿。
  Nǐ xiān xiàlóu, zài zǒu ______.
  Go downstairs first, then walk down.
• 5. 把手機拿＿＿＿，我看一下。
  Bǎ shǒujī ná ______, wǒ kàn yíxià.
  Bring the phone here. Let me take a look.

Answer key: 1. 來 2. 出來 3. 進去 4. 下去 5. 來

Spot The Difference

The important thing is not to translate every word literally in your head. Sometimes 出來 means “come out,” and sometimes it means “figure out” or “notice.” Context does the heavy lifting, like a good teammate.

Common Mistakes And Fixes

Extra Nuance: When Mandarin Feels Less Literal

Directional complements often extend into abstract meaning. This is where learners start staring at the page like it owes them money.

These are not random idioms. They follow a pattern: the complement adds a result or direction to the action. In other words, the “movement” may be physical, mental, or social. Mandarin likes to keep you alert.

Quick Reference Summary

• 來 lái = toward here
• 去 qù = away there
• 上來 shànglái = move up here
• 下去 xiàqù = move down away / continue downward
• 進去 jìnqù = go in
• 出來 chūlái = come out / exit / figure out in some contexts
• Always check the speaker’s viewpoint.
• Learn common verb + complement pairs as chunks.
• Do not translate too literally when the sentence is clearly idiomatic.

For a reliable reference on Mandarin grammar terms, a boring but useful place to start is the general language and grammar overview on Traditional Chinese grammar, or a standard reference like the broad Mandarin language entry on Wikipedia if you want the academic version of “yes, this is a thing.”

Yak takeaway: directional complements are not just “add-on words.” They are the GPS of Mandarin. Once you get used to the speaker’s viewpoint, 來／去, 上來／下去, and 進去／出來 stop looking mysterious and start looking, well, oddly neat.