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How to say “start doing” in Chinese with 起来 (qǐlái)

Verb / Adj. + 起来 (qǐlái)

Uses of the complement "-起来 (qǐlái)"

HSK 4Complements

Rule structure

-起来 (-qǐlái) as a complement can indicate the beginning and continuation of an action (inchoative aspect). It is an advanced usage beyond physical direction.

Examples

他一听这话，就哭起来了。

Tā yī tīng zhè huà, jiù kū qǐlái le.

As soon as he heard this, he started crying.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you express “Uses of the complement "-起来 (qǐlái)"” in Chinese?

Use the structure: Verb / Adj. + 起来 (qǐlái). For example: 他一听这话，就哭起来了。 — “As soon as he heard this, he started crying.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

他一听这话，就哭起来了。 — “As soon as he heard this, he started crying.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.

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