起来 vs 下去 (qǐ lái vs xià qù): starting an action vs keeping it going
The directional complements 起来 and 下去 have special aspectual uses: 起来 marks the beginning of an action or state (inchoative), while 下去 indicates that an action or state continues from a certain point (continuative). Choosing between them depends on whether you want to express onset or persistence.
Both 起来 and 下去 are directional verbs that can act as complements to express aspectual meanings. When used non‑literally, 起来 indicates the initiation of an action or the onset of a state (e.g., 'start to rain', 'get excited'). 下去 signals that an action or state continues from a reference point, often implying persistence despite difficulty (e.g., 'keep working', 'live on'). The key mental model is: 起来 = beginning; 下去 = continuation. They often appear after a verb or adjective, and their meaning depends on context.
When to use each
Use 起来 after a verb or adjective to show that an action or state is beginning or emerging. It is common with change‑of‑state verbs (e.g., 热起来 'get hot') and verbs of motion or emotion (e.g., 跑起来 'start running'). 起来 can also indicate a sudden onset or gradual development.
When used literally, 起来 retains its directional meaning 'upwards' (e.g., 站起来 'stand up'). The aspectual meaning is a metaphorical extension of 'coming up' into view.
Use 下去 after a verb or adjective to show that an action or state continues from a given point, often with the implication of perseverance. It is typical with duration verbs (e.g., 活下去 'keep living') and situations where the speaker wants the action to persist (e.g., 坚持下去 'persevere').
Literally, 下去 means 'downwards' (e.g., 走下去 'walk down'). The aspectual sense comes from the idea of 'going down' a path, i.e., moving forward. 下去 often carries a nuance of difficulty or effort, especially in persuasive contexts.
At a glance
| 起来 | 下去 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Beginning of an action/state | Continuation of an action/state |
| Time reference | Onset (from not doing to doing) | From a reference point onward |
| Typical verbs | 跑 (pǎo), 做 (zuò), 热 (rè), 高兴 (gāoxìng) | 做 (zuò), 等 (děng), 活 (huó), 坚持 (jiānchí) |
| Negation | 可以用‘不’：没跑起来 (didn't start running) | 可以用‘不’：不坚持下去 (won't persist) |
| Question form | 动词 + 起来了吗？ (Has it started?) | 动词 + 下去吗？ (Will it continue?) |
| Emotional nuance | Often neutral or positive (starting is good) | Often implies endurance or difficulty |
Examples
- 起来天气暖和起来了。Tiānqì nuǎnhuo qǐ lái le.The weather has started to get warm.起来 marks the onset of a state; 了 indicates completion of the change.
- 起来他跑起来很快。Tā pǎo qǐ lái hěn kuài.He runs fast once he starts (running).Here 起来 after 跑 emphasises the start of the action.
- 下去请坚持做下去。Qǐng jiānchí zuò xià qù.Please keep doing it persistently.下去 indicates continuing the action; 坚持 reinforces effort.
- 下去他们再也不想生活下去了。Tāmen zài yě bù xiǎng shēnghuó xià qù le.They no longer want to keep living.下去 emphasises the continuation of life despite hardship.
- 下去这件事只做了一半，要继续做下去。Zhè jiàn shì zhǐ zuò le yí bàn, yào jìxù zuò xià qù.Only half of this task is done; we have to keep working on it.继续 (jìxù) and 下去 together express uninterrupted continuation.
- 起来他一听到这个消息就高兴起来了。Tā yī tīng dào zhège xiāoxi jiù gāoxìng qǐ lái le.As soon as he heard the news, he became happy.起来 indicates an immediate change of emotion.
Common mistakes
- Using 下去 to mean 'start to', e.g., '他跑下去了' when meaning 'he started running' (correct: 他跑起来了).
- Using 起来 to mean 'continue', e.g., '你继续说起来' (correct: 你继续说下去).
- Using 起来 in a continuation context with 继续, e.g., '继续做起来' (correct: 继续做下去).
- Forgetting to add 了 after 起来 when the beginning is complete, e.g., '天热起来' (should be '天热起来了').
- Using 下去 with a state that cannot be sustained, e.g., '死下去' (incorrect; 下去 implies ongoing action, but 死 is punctual).
FAQ
- When do I use 起来 vs 下去?
- Use 起来 when you want to express that something begins (e.g., 'start running' → 跑起来). Use 下去 when you want to say that something continues (e.g., 'keep running' → 跑下去). The choice depends on whether the focus is on onset or persistence.
- Can 起来 and 下去 be used with adjectives?
- Yes. For example, 暖和起来 means 'get warm', and 暖和下去 would be rare but could mean 'continue to be warm' (usually with a negative or conditional context). Adjectives with 下去 often imply a state that should remain, e.g., 安静下去 'stay quiet'.
- Do 起来 and 下去 always have aspectual meaning?
- No. Both have literal directional meanings: 起来 = 'up', 下去 = 'down'. For example, 站起来 (stand up) and 坐下来 (sit down) are physical directions. The aspectual use is a derived meaning that appears when the verb is not a physical motion.
- Is there a negative form for 起来 and 下去?
- Yes. Negate with 不 before the complement: 跑不起来 (doesn't start running), 坚持不下去 (can't keep persisting). Note that 没 is used before the verb, not the complement: 没跑起来 (didn't start running), 没坚持下去 (didn't persist).