The Chinese word "起来" (qǐlái)

 The Chinese word "起来" (qǐlái) is incredibly versatile and can be used in several ways, both literally and figuratively. It's often used as a verb complement, adding nuance to the action of the main verb.

Here are the most common ways to use "起来":

1. Indicating Upward Movement (Literal Directional Complement)

This is the most basic and literal meaning, combining "起" (to rise/get up) and "来" (to come). It signifies movement towards an upward direction or collecting things together.

Structure: Verb + 起来

Examples:

• 站起来 (zhàn qǐlái): Stand up.
  • 请大家站起来。 (Qǐng dàjiā zhàn qǐlái.) - Everyone, please stand up.
• 捡起来 (jiǎn qǐlái): Pick up (from the ground).
  • 把书捡起来。 (Bǎ shū jiǎn qǐlái.) - Pick up the book.
• 飞起来 (fēi qǐlái): Fly up/start to fly.
  • 小鸟飞起来了。 (Xiǎoniǎo fēi qǐlái le.) - The birds started flying.
• 举起来 (jǔ qǐlái): Lift up/raise.
  • 把手举起来。 (Bǎ shǒu jǔ qǐlái.) - Raise your hands.
• 收起来 (shōu qǐlái): Put away/collect together.
  • 把衣服收起来。 (Bǎ yīfu shōu qǐlái.) - Put away the clothes.

2. Indicating the Start or Initiation of an Action/State

When used after a verb or adjective, "起来" can indicate that an action or state has begun or is becoming apparent. Often followed by 了 (le).

Structure: Verb/Adjective + 起来 (+ 了)

Examples:

• 笑起来 (xiào qǐlái): Start to laugh.
  • 他笑起来了。 (Tā xiào qǐlái le.) - He started to laugh.
• 哭起来 (kū qǐlái): Start to cry.
  • 宝宝哭起来了。 (Bǎobao kū qǐlái le.) - The baby started crying.
• 热起来 (rè qǐlái): Start to get hot.
  • 天气热起来了。 (Tiānqì rè qǐlái le.) - The weather is getting hot.
• 胖起来 (pàng qǐlái): Start to gain weight.
  • 结婚以后，她胖起来了。 (Jiéhūn yǐhòu, tā pàng qǐlái le.) - After she got married, she started to gain weight.
• 好起来 (hǎo qǐlái): Start to get better.
  • 爷爷的身体好起来了。 (Yéye de shēntǐ hǎo qǐlái le.) - Grandpa's health is getting better.

3. Expressing a Subjective Judgment or Impression (Sense Verbs)

This is a very common and useful usage. When "起来" follows a sensory verb (like see, hear, taste, smell, feel), it indicates an impression or an appearance based on that sense. It translates to "looks like," "sounds like," "tastes like," etc.

Structure: Sensory Verb + 起来 + (Adj./Adv.)

Examples:

• 看起来 (kàn qǐlái): Looks like/seems.
  • 她看起来很累。 (Tā kàn qǐlái hěn lèi.) - She looks very tired.
  • 这个房子看起来很大。 (Zhè ge fángzi kàn qǐlái hěn dà.) - This house looks very big.
• 听起来 (tīng qǐlái): Sounds like.
  • 这首歌听起来很好听。 (Zhè shǒu gē tīng qǐlái hěn hǎotīng.) - This song sounds very good.
  • 这件事情听起来有点复杂。 (Zhè jiàn shìqing tīng qǐlái yǒudiǎn fùzá.) - This matter sounds a bit complicated.
• 闻起来 (wén qǐlái): Smells like.
  • 你的头发闻起来很香。 (Nǐ de tóufa wén qǐlái hěn xiāng.) - Your hair smells good.
• 尝起来 (cháng qǐlái): Tastes like.
  • 这道菜尝起来怎么样？ (Zhè dào cài cháng qǐlái zěnmeyàng?) - How does this dish taste?
• 摸起来 (mō qǐlái): Feels (to the touch) like.
  • 这件衣服摸起来很舒服。 (Zhè jiàn yīfu mō qǐlái hěn shūfu.) - This piece of clothing feels very comfortable.

4. Recalling/Remembering Something

When used with verbs related to thinking or remembering, "起来" can indicate bringing something to mind or recalling.

Structure: Verb + 起来

Examples:

• 想起来 (xiǎng qǐlái): Remember/recall.
  • 我想起来了！ (Wǒ xiǎng qǐlái le!) - I remember now!
  • 我突然想起来一件事。 (Wǒ tūrán xiǎng qǐlái yī jiàn shì.) - I suddenly recalled something.
• 记起来 (jì qǐlái): Remember/recall.
  • 他努力地想，但是记不起来了。 (Tā nǔlì de xiǎng, dànshì jì bù qǐlái le.) - He tried hard to think, but couldn't remember.

5. Summing Up/Collecting Abstractly

"起来" can also be used to indicate bringing things together in an abstract sense, such as summing up, combining, or uniting.

Structure: Verb + 起来

Examples:

• 加起来 (jiā qǐlái): Add up/sum up.
  • 三加五加起来是多少？ (Sān jiā wǔ jiā qǐlái shì duōshǎo?) - How much is three plus five?
• 团结起来 (tuánjié qǐlái): Unite/band together.
  • 我们团结起来，一定能赢。 (Wǒmen tuánjié qǐlái, yīdìng néng yíng.) - If we unite, we will definitely win.
• 结合起来 (jiéhé qǐlái): Combine/integrate.
  • 把理论和实践结合起来。 (Bǎ lǐlùn hé shíjiàn jiéhé qǐlái.) - Combine theory with practice.

Key points to remember:

• Directional Complement: "起来" as a directional complement is often used with verbs that imply movement.
• Initiation of Action/State: It often implies a process of change or the beginning of a new state.
• Subjective Judgment: This is a very common and practical use with sensory verbs.
• 了 (le): "起来" indicating the start of an action or change is very often followed by 了 (le).
• Object Placement: If there's an object, it usually comes after "起来" in the directional complement usage, but before "起来" for the subjective judgment usage.
  • 捡起书来 (jiǎn qǐ shū lái) - Pick up the book (literal, object between 起 and 来).
  • 这首歌听起来很好听 (zhè shǒu gē tīng qǐlái hěn hǎotīng) - This song sounds very good (subjective judgment, object is the song itself, "很好听" is the description).

Learning "起来" requires practice and exposure to various contexts. Pay attention to the verb it follows and the overall context of the sentence to grasp its specific meaning.