HSK 5 · VERSION 2.0#67

Using “lái” and “qù” When “Verbing Around”

来 / 去

lái / qù

How it works

At HSK5, 来 (lái) and 去 (qù) often appear after verbs to indicate direction from the speaker’s perspective, but also more abstractly to mark the movement of action, thought, or process.

Example sentences

这件事说来简单，做起来却没那么容易。

Zhè jiàn shì shuō lái jiǎndān, zuò qǐlái què méi nàme róngyì.

This matter sounds simple when spoken of, but when actually done it is not that easy.

这么多年过去了，很多细节我已经记不太起来了。

Zhème duō nián guòqù le, hěn duō xìjié wǒ yǐjīng jì bú tài qǐlái le.

So many years have passed, and I already cannot remember many details very clearly.

他把这些复杂的问题一点一点解释下来，大家就都明白了。

Tā bǎ zhèxiē fùzá de wèntí yìdiǎn yìdiǎn jiěshì xiàlái, dàjiā jiù dōu míngbai le.

He explained these complicated questions little by little, and then everyone understood.

Key point

At this level, 来 (lái) and 去 (qù) are often part of larger complement patterns and may have abstract meanings.

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