起来 qi lai
“(after a verb) indicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state; indicating an upward movement (e.g. after 站); indicating completion”
verbHSK 4 · 2021 list level 1Traditional 起來
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
起来 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 418: 起来 qǐlái — Level 2; official annotation 2 (动). PDF page 90
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 起来
起来 is commonly used after a verb to show that an action or state has started and is continuing. It often appears as verb + 起来, or with an object placed between 起 and 来, as in 下起雨来. Simple sentences often end with 了, as in 笑了起来 or 雨下起来了.
例句Example sentences
- 听到这个故事，孩子们都笑了起来。tīng dào zhè ge gù shì, hái zi men dōu xiào le qǐ lái.Hearing this story, the children all started laughing.
- 雨下起来了，我们快回家吧。yǔ xià qǐ lái le, wǒ men kuài huí jiā ba.It has started to rain; let's go home quickly.
- 大家一坐下就讨论起来了。dà jiā yí zuò xià jiù tǎo lùn qǐ lái le.As soon as everyone sat down, they started discussing.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗下雨起来了。
✓下起雨来了。
When 起来 marks the start of an action, an object such as 雨 comes between 起 and 来, not after 起来.
深度指南Grammar & comparison guides
义项All meanings
- qǐ lai: to stand up; to get up; also pr. [qǐ lái]
- qi lai: (after a verb) indicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state; indicating an upward movement (e.g. after 站); indicating completion; (after a perception verb, e.g. 看) expressing preliminary judgment; also pr. [qǐ lai]