Directional complements in Chinese grammar indicate the direction of movement or action. They follow the structure of verb plus directional complement. The four main directional complements are: shàngqù meaning up and away from the speaker, shànglái meaning up and toward the speaker, xiàqù meaning down and away from the speaker, and xiàlái meaning down and toward the speaker. Understanding these complements requires grasping the speaker's perspective and the direction of movement.
Now let's focus on the upward directional complements. Shàngqù indicates upward movement away from the speaker's position. For example, 他走上去了 means he walked up there, moving away from where the speaker is located. In contrast, shànglái indicates upward movement toward the speaker. 他走上来了 means he walked up here, coming closer to the speaker's position. These complements commonly pair with verbs like 走 meaning walk, 跑 meaning run, and 爬 meaning climb. The key is understanding the speaker's perspective and whether the movement is toward or away from them.
Now let's examine the downward directional complements. Xiàqù indicates downward movement away from the speaker's position. For example, 他跳下去了 means he jumped down there, moving away from where the speaker is located. In contrast, xiàlái indicates downward movement toward the speaker. 他跳下来了 means he jumped down here, coming closer to the speaker's position. Notice the consistent pattern: 去 always indicates movement away from the speaker, while 来 indicates movement toward the speaker. This pattern applies to both upward and downward movements, creating a logical system for understanding directional complements.
The crucial factor in choosing directional complements is the speaker's perspective and position. The same physical movement can be described differently depending on where the speaker is located. Consider a person climbing stairs: if the speaker is at the bottom of the stairs, they would say 他爬上去了, meaning he climbed up there, because the movement is away from the speaker. However, if the speaker is at the top of the stairs, they would say 他爬上来了, meaning he climbed up here, because the movement is toward the speaker. This perspective rule applies consistently across all four directional complements, making it essential to always consider the speaker's position when choosing the correct complement.
Directional complements extend far beyond literal physical movement to express abstract concepts and metaphorical meanings. For example, 说下去 means to continue speaking, using the downward continuation concept. 想起来 means to remember or recall, suggesting thoughts emerging upward toward consciousness. 坚持下去 means to persist or continue, emphasizing ongoing action. 安静下来 means to become quiet, indicating a settling downward motion. These figurative uses maintain connection to the original directional concepts while expressing complex abstract ideas, making directional complements a rich and versatile feature of Chinese grammar.