Directional Complements: Figurative Use
趋向补语3 — 引申用法
Use directional complements (上, 出, 起, 下) in their figurative and extended meanings beyond physical direction
Directional complements 上, 出, 起, and 下 extend beyond physical movement to express abstract results: 上 (achievement/attachment), 出 (emergence/expression), 起 (recall/initiation), 下 (retention/recording).
These figurative uses are extremely common and must be memorized as verb-complement combinations. The directional meaning is metaphorical, not literal.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Directional Complements: Figurative Use (趋向补语3 — 引申用法)
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Understanding 趋向补语3 — 引申用法
You have already learned directional complements for physical movement — 走上来 (walk up), 跑出去 (run out). Now you are entering their figurative world, where these same direction words express abstract results. 上 can mean "to achieve" or "to attach to" — 关上 (close/shut), 喜欢上 (come to like), 穿上 (put on). 出 expresses "bringing something into the open" — 说出 (speak out), 想出 (think up/come up with), 看出 (notice/perceive). 起 means "to recall" or "to initiate" — 想起 (recall), 建立起 (establish). 下 means "to retain" or "to leave behind" — 留下 (leave behind), 记下 (write down/record). These figurative uses are everywhere in daily Chinese. Once you master them, your comprehension and expression will improve dramatically.
Key Points
- 上: achievement, completion, attachment — 关上 (shut), 穿上 (put on), 爱上 (fall in love with).
- 出: emergence, expression, discovery — 说出 (speak out), 想出 (think up), 看出 (perceive).
- 起: recall, initiation, building — 想起 (recall), 建立起 (establish), 拿起 (pick up).
- 下: retention, recording, leaving behind — 留下 (leave behind), 记下 (note down), 停下 (stop).
- These are not random — each direction has a metaphorical logic that can be felt once you see enough examples.
- Many verb + directional complement combinations must be memorized as fixed phrases.
The figurative use of directional complements shows how Chinese builds abstract meanings from concrete spatial concepts. This metaphorical thinking — where "up" means achievement and "out" means emergence — is deeply embedded in the Chinese worldview and appears in countless everyday expressions.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
请同学们离开教室时关上窗户。
Please close the windows when you leave the classroom.
上 = completion/achievement
他向父母说出了自己的愿望。
He expressed his wish to his parents.
出 = bringing something into the open
他终于想起了当时的情况。
He finally recalled the situation at that time.
起 = recall
他们建立起了亲密的朋友关系。
They built up a close friendship.
起 = initiation/building
请留下你的地址和手机号。
Please leave your address and phone number.
下 = retention/leaving behind
她渐渐喜欢上了这座城市。
She gradually came to like this city.
上 = developing attachment
我一下子想不出好办法。
I cannot think of a good solution right away.
Negative potential form with 出
请把老师说的话记下来。
Please write down what the teacher said.
下来 = recording/retaining
Common Mistakes
Recalling a memory uses 想起 (起 = bringing something back to mind), not 想出 (出 = producing a new idea). 想出 means "to think up / come up with" something new.
Closing a window uses 关上 (上 = achieving the closed state). 下 does not work here because closing is about completion, not about leaving something behind.
Developing a liking or attachment uses 上 (up = attaching to). 出 would not make sense here.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Think of 上 as "locking on" — whether closing a lid, putting on clothes, or falling in love, something attaches.
Think of 出 as "coming out" — ideas emerge, truths are revealed, solutions appear.
Think of 起 as "rising up from memory" — recalling, remembering, picking up.
Think of 下 as "settling down to stay" — leaving behind, recording, stopping in place.
Homework
Write two sentences for each figurative complement (上, 出, 起, 下) — eight sentences total. Use different verbs for each pair.