Compound Directional Complements for Physical Motion in Chinese
复合趋向补语的趋向意义
A compound directional complement combines a path element with 来 or 去 after a main verb. The first element shows the route, such as entering, leaving, rising, or returning; 来 presents movement toward the viewpoint and 去 movement away. Objects and locations may appear in licensed positions inside or after the complement.
Published August 6, 2026
Reviewed August 6, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Verb + Path (进/出/上/下/回/过/起) + 来/去
Read the structure
A compound directional complement combines a path element with 来 or 去 after a main verb. The first element shows the route, such as entering, leaving, rising, or returning; 来 presents movement toward the viewpoint and 去 movement away. Objects and locations may appear in licensed positions inside or after the complement. Keep the model Verb + Path (进/出/上/下/回/过/起) + 来/去 visible while you compare each sentence.
他从书包里拿出一本书来。
He took a book out of his schoolbag toward the viewpoint.
Choose the right context
Describe a path together with movement toward or away from a viewpoint. Attach a two-part direction after a motion or transfer verb. Place a location or object according to the complement's licensed order.
汽车开过来了。
The car drove over toward us.
Respect the boundary
Do not reverse the path element and 来 or 去. Do not invent combinations such as 起去. Do not treat abstract result meanings as physical direction without context.
他从书包里拿来出一本书。
(He took toward-out a book from the bag.)
Repair the pattern
The two directional parts are reversed: The path element 出 precedes viewpoint marker 来 in the compound complement. A nonexistent directional pairing is formed: The upward complement is 起来; the combination 起去 is not part of the compound directional inventory.
他从书包里拿出一本书来。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
他从书包里拿出一本书来。
He took a book out of his schoolbag toward the viewpoint.
他
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
从
Path (进/出/上/下/回/过/起)
This part occupies the Path (进/出/上/下/回/过/起) position in the model pattern.
书包
来/去
This part occupies the 来/去 position in the model pattern.
里
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
拿出
Path (进/出/上/下/回/过/起)
This part occupies the Path (进/出/上/下/回/过/起) position in the model pattern.
一本书
来/去
This part occupies the 来/去 position in the model pattern.
来
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
他从书包里拿出一本书来。
He took a book out of his schoolbag toward the viewpoint.
汽车开过来了。
The car drove over toward us.
这些书应该拿进去。
These books should be taken inside, away from here.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Describe a path together with movement toward or away from a viewpoint.
- Attach a two-part direction after a motion or transfer verb.
- Place a location or object according to the complement's licensed order.
Do not use it when
- Do not reverse the path element and 来 or 去.
- Do not invent combinations such as 起去.
- Do not treat abstract result meanings as physical direction without context.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
他从书包里拿来出一本书。
他从书包里拿出一本书来。
The two directional parts are reversed
The path element 出 precedes viewpoint marker 来 in the compound complement.
你站起去。
你站起来。
A nonexistent directional pairing is formed
The upward complement is 起来; the combination 起去 is not part of the compound directional inventory.
他从书包里拿来出一本书。
The path element 出 precedes viewpoint marker 来 in the compound complement.
你站起去。
The upward complement is 起来; the combination 起去 is not part of the compound directional inventory.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 复合趋向补语的趋向意义.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 复合趋向补语的趋向意义. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Compound Directional Complements for Physical Motion Questions
What do the two parts of a compound directional complement show?
The first gives the path and the second, 来 or 去, locates movement toward or away from the discourse viewpoint.
Can an object split the complement?
Certain objects and locations can occur between the path element and 来 or 去, but placement depends on definiteness, completion, and the verb-complement combination.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三47】, PDF p. 205 (printed p. 199)
Places physical-direction uses of compound directional complements at Level 3 and lists the main path plus 来/去 combinations.
Official sourceLaoshi Chinese Grammar Reference
Laoshi editorial team · Laoshi · 2026
Locator: Grammar article 117, The Compound Directional Complements, lines 14-117
Explains the two-part path and viewpoint structure, inventories accepted forms, and documents object and location placement.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
趋向补语Simple Directional Complements
Compare simple directional complements with a path element combined with 来 or 去.
Easy to confuse
地点Place Word Placement
Object and location placement changes which material may occur inside the compound complement.
Compare
下来 / 下去 / 起来 / 过来（状态义）Directional Complements with State Meanings
Physical path direction differs from conventional readings that present a developing state.
Easy to confuse
上 / 出 / 起 / 下（结果义）Directional Complements with Result Meanings
The same forms may describe literal motion or a conventional achieved result.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Easy to confuse
Compare simple directional complements with a path element combined with 来 or 去.