The Chinese word "出来" (chūlái)

 The Chinese word "出来" (chūlái) is extremely versatile and commonly used, functioning as a directional complement, a resultative complement, or even in certain fixed expressions. Its core meaning generally relates to movement from inside to outside or emergence/appearance.

Let's break down its various uses:

1. As a Directional Complement: -出来 (-chūlái) - "out," "out of something"

When placed after a verb, "出来" indicates that the action results in something moving from an inside place to an outside place, or from a state of being hidden/unknown to being visible/known.

• Meaning:

  • Physical movement: To go out, to come out, to bring out.
  • Emergence/Appearance: To appear, to emerge, to come into being/sight.

• Structure: Verb + 出来

• Examples (Physical Movement):

  • 他从屋子里走出来了。 (Tā cóng wūzi lǐ zǒu chūlái le.) - He walked out of the house.
  • 请把垃圾拿出来。 (Qǐng bǎ lājī ná chūlái.) - Please take the trash out.
  • 她把书从包里拿出来。 (Tā bǎ shū cóng bāo lǐ ná chūlái.) - She took the book out of the bag.
  • 把手伸出来。 (Bǎ shǒu shēn chūlái.) - Stick your hand out.

• Examples (Emergence/Appearance/Revelation):

  • 问题终于解决出来了。 (Wèntí zhōngyú jiějué chūlái le.) - The problem finally got figured out / came to a solution.
  • 这个计划是新想出来的。 (Zhège jìhuà shì xīn xiǎng chūlái de.) - This plan was newly thought up / came into being.
  • 这个秘密被他发现出来了。 (Zhège mìmì bèi tā fāxiàn chūlái le.) - This secret was found out by him.
  • 这张照片洗出来了。 (Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn xǐ chūlái le.) - This photo was developed (came out of the developing process).
  • 雨停了，太阳快要照出来了。 (Yǔ tíng le, tàiyáng kuàiyào zhào chūlái le.) - The rain stopped, the sun is about to shine out.

2. As a Resultative Complement: -出来 (-chūlái) - "to recognize," "to distinguish," "to complete," "to be able to"

When "出来" acts as a resultative complement, it often indicates a successful completion of an action, or the ability to discern/recognize something.

• Meaning:

  • Recognition/Distinction: To recognize, to distinguish, to make something out.
  • Completion/Production: To produce, to create, to come up with.
  • Ability/Discernment (often with 听, 看, 闻, 尝): To be able to hear/see/smell/taste something clearly or discern its nature.

• Structure: Verb + 出来

• Examples (Recognition/Distinction):

  • 我认出来他了。 (Wǒ rèn chūlái tā le.) - I recognized him.
  • 你听出来是谁的声音了吗？ (Nǐ tīng chūlái shì shéi de shēngyīn le ma?) - Did you recognize whose voice it was (hear it clearly enough to distinguish)?
  • 我分不清这两个字，你帮我辨别出来吧。 (Wǒ fēnbùqīng zhè liǎng ge zì, nǐ bāng wǒ biànbié chūlái ba.) - I can't distinguish these two characters, please help me identify them.

• Examples (Completion/Production):

  • 他们研究出来了一种新药。 (Tāmen yánjiū chūlái le yī zhǒng xīnyào.) - They researched and produced a new medicine.
  • 这个计划终于写出来了。 (Zhège jìhuà zhōngyú xiě chūlái le.) - This plan was finally written out / completed.
  • 她画出来一幅很漂亮的画。 (Tā huà chūlái yī fú hěn piàoliang de huà.) - She painted a very beautiful picture.

• Examples (Ability/Discernment):

  • 这么黑，我什么都看不出来。 (Zhème hēi, wǒ shénme dōu kàn bù chūlái.) - It's so dark, I can't make anything out. (Here, the negative "不" is inserted)
  • 我闻出来是咖喱味儿。 (Wǒ wén chūlái shì gālí wèir.) - I smelled that it was curry. (I could discern the curry smell.)
  • 尝出来是什么味道了吗？ (Cháng chūlái shì shénme wèidào le ma?) - Did you taste what flavor it was? (Could you discern the taste?)

3. Fixed Expressions and Special Uses

• 看起来 (kàn chūlái): To look like, to appear to be. (Similar to 看起来 for "seem," but often implies deriving a conclusion from observation.)
  • 他看起来有点儿累。 (Tā kàn chūlái yǒudiǎnr lèi.) - He looks a bit tired.
• 说出来 (shuō chūlái): To speak out, to say aloud, to reveal.
  • 把你的想法说出来吧。 (Bǎ nǐ de xiǎngfǎ shuō chūlái ba.) - Speak your thoughts out.
• 听出来 (tīng chūlái): To hear and discern, to recognize by hearing.
  • 我一听就听出来是你的声音。 (Wǒ yī tīng jiù tīng chūlái shì nǐ de shēngyīn.) - I recognized it as your voice as soon as I heard it.
• 想出来 (xiǎng chūlái): To come up with (an idea, solution), to figure out.
  • 我想出来一个好办法。 (Wǒ xiǎng chūlái yī ge hǎo bànfǎ.) - I thought of a good idea.
• 做出来 (zuò chūlái): To make, to produce, to complete.
  • 他做出来了一个机器人。 (Tā zuò chūlái le yī ge jīqìrén.) - He made a robot.

Placement with Objects:

When "出来" is a directional or resultative complement, the object typically goes after "出来," especially if it's a short or simple object.

• 把垃圾拿出来。 (Bǎ lājī ná chūlái.) - Take the trash out.
• 他看出来问题了。 (Tā kàn chūlái wèntí le.) - He saw the problem.

If the object is a longer phrase or a clause, it might sometimes appear before the complement for emphasis, but the general rule is after.

Summary Table:

Function	Meaning	Structure	Examples
Directional Comp.	Physical: From inside to outside	Verb + 出来	走出来 (walk out), 拿出来 (take out)
	Emergence: To appear, to come into being/sight	Verb + 出来	发现出来 (find out), 想出来 (come up with)
Resultative Comp.	Recognition/Distinction: To recognize, to distinguish	Verb + 出来	认出来 (recognize), 听出来 (recognize by hearing)
	Completion/Production: To produce, to create	Verb + 出来	研究出来 (research and produce), 写出来 (write out/complete)
	Discernment (sense verbs): To be able to perceive clearly	Verb + 出来	看出来 (see clearly/make out), 闻出来 (smell clearly)

"出来" is a very frequently used and nuanced word in Chinese. The best way to master it is through consistent exposure to examples and practice in various contexts. Pay attention to the verb it combines with, as that often gives a strong clue to its specific meaning in a given sentence.