ComplementsHSK 5

Advanced uses of direction complement "-起来"

The direction complement 起来 (qǐlái) can express the result of an action where things are brought together, added up, put away, or combined. It is often used with a 把 (bǎ) construction to emphasize the object being affected.

Structure

Verb + 起来

Subj. + 把 + Obj. + Verb + 起来

Commonly used with 把 to highlight the object and imply a result of gathering or completing the action.

Examples

13和15加起来是多少？
Shísān hé shíwǔ jiā qǐlái shì duōshǎo?
How much are 13 and 15 added up?
他把衣服都收起来了。
Tā bǎ yīfu dōu shōu qǐlái le.
He put away the clothes.
我老婆把钱都存起来了。
Wǒ lǎopo bǎ qián dōu cún qǐlái le.
My wife saves all our money.
这两个颜色搭配起来很漂亮。
Zhè liǎng gè yánsè dāpèi qǐlái hěn piàoliang.
These two colors look great when you combine them.
如果你把工作和兴趣结合起来，工作就会很快乐。
Rúguǒ nǐ bǎ gōngzuò hé xìngqù jiéhé qǐlái , gōngzuò jiù huì hěn kuàilè.
If you combine your work with your interests, working will be fun.

Words that use this

起来qǐ lái(after a verb) indicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state; indicating an upward movement (e.g. after 站); indicating completion; (after a perception verb, e.g. 看) expressing preliminary judgment; also pr. [qǐ lai]