ComplementsHSK 5
Using 来 and 去 when "verbing around"
This pattern expresses doing an action repeatedly back and forth, or in a seemingly aimless, iterative way. The same verb is repeated before 来 and 去, and single-syllable verbs are most common. Avoid using different verbs, as the pattern requires repetition of the same action verb.
Structure
Verb + 来 + Verb + 去
Examples
- 学生们都很紧张，在考场外面走来走去。Xué shēng men dōu hěn jǐn zhāng, zài kǎo chǎng wài miàn zǒu lái zǒu qù.The students are all nervous, they are all pacing back and forth outside of the exam room.
- 他说来说去还不承认自己错了。Tā shuō lái shuō qù hái bù chéng rèn zì jǐ cuò le.He's been yakking a lot, but he still hasn't admitted that he's wrong.
- 我想来想去都想不明白，他怎么能那样对我？Wǒ xiǎng lái xiǎng qù dōu xiǎng bù míng bái, tā zěn me néng nà yàng duì wǒ?I've thought and thought about it, but I can't understand, how could you treat me like that?
- 他翻来翻去，终于找到了那双破袜子。Tā fān lái fān qù, zhōng yú zhǎo dào le nà shuāng pò wà zi.He searched everywhere and finally found the pair of worn-out socks.
- 这份工作不仅是脑力活，还需要跑来跑去的！Zhè fèn gōng zuò bù jǐn shì nǎo lì huó, hái xū yào pǎo lái pǎo qù de!This job isn't only mentally taxing; you also have to run around a lot!
Words that use this
- 来láito come; (used as a substitute for a more specific verb); hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回来); ever since (as in 自古以来); for the past (amount of time); (prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 来世); (between two verbs) in order to; (after a round number) approximately; (used after 得 to indicate possibility, as in 谈得来, or after 不 to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不来)
- 去qùto go; to go to (a place); (of a time etc) last; just passed; to send; to remove; to get rid of; to reduce; to be apart from in space or time; to die (euphemism); to play (a part); (when used either before or after a verb) to go in order to do sth; (after a verb of motion indicates movement away from the speaker); (used after certain verbs to indicate detachment or separation)