Verb + 上来 / 上去
HSK 3- Complements
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used after a verb to indicate an action directed upward, toward the speaker (上来) or away from the speaker (上去).
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This is a compound directional complement expressing upward movement. 上来 (shàng lái) means "come up," directed toward the speaker. 上去 (shàng qù) means "go up," directed away from the speaker.
For example, if you are upstairs and call to someone below, you say: 你上来吧！ (Come on up!). Conversely, if you are downstairs and tell someone to go up, you say: 你上去吧！ (Go on up!)
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 你快上来吧，我们等你。繁: 你快上來吧，我們等你。Nǐ kuài shànglái ba, wǒmen děng nǐ.
You come up here quickly, we're waiting for you.
- 他已经跑上去了。繁: 他已經跑上去了。Tā yǐjīng pǎo shàngqù le.
He has already run up there.
- 请把箱子搬上来。繁: 請把箱子搬上來。Qǐng bǎ xiāngzi bān shànglái.
Please carry the suitcase up here.
- 他走上去了，你看不见他。繁: 他走上去了，你看不見他。Tā zǒu shàngqù le, nǐ kàn bu jiàn tā.
He went up there, you can't see him.
- 小猫爬上来了。繁: 小貓爬上來了。Xiǎo māo pá shànglái le.
The kitten climbed up.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我在楼上，你上去吧。Correct:我在楼上，你上来吧。
The speaker is on the upper floor; since the action is directed toward themselves, 上来 (up here) must be used.
- Wrong:我在楼下，看见他跑上来了。Correct:我在楼下，看见他跑上去了。
The speaker is downstairs; the action of running upstairs is moving away from oneself, so 上去 (up/upward) is used.