Result complement "-xiaqu"

下去 (xiàqù) can be used as a result complement to talk about things continuing or carrying on. Think of it as a figurative way of "keeping the ball rolling" (downhill).

Affirmative Form

Structure-wise, this pattern is the same as other result complements.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 下去

Examples

• 说 下去 。Shuō xiàqù.Keep talking.
• 这 本 书 你 一定 要 认真 地 看 下去 。Zhè běn shū nǐ yīdìng yào rènzhēn de kàn xiàqù.You must keep reading this book carefully.
• 这样 做 很 有 意义 ，你 应该 做 下去 。Zhèyàng zuò hěn yǒu yìyì, nǐ yīnggāi zuò xiàqù.It's very meaningful to do this. You should keep doing it.
• 他 走 了 ，因为 他 没脸 待 下去 了 。Tā zǒu le, yīnwèi tā méiliǎn dāi xiàqù le.He left because he felt shame if he stayed.
• 你 不能 这样 生活 下去 了 。Nǐ bù néng zhèyàng shēnghuó xiàqù le.You can't keep living like this.

Negative Form

Strictly speaking, simply adding 不 in front of the main verb is all it takes to create the negative form. But it's actually more common to use this negative potential complement form. So it's not just "not go on" (doing something), but actually "can't go on" (doing something).

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 不 + 下去 (+ 了)

Note that 了 is often used when it's negated.

Examples

• 这个 故事 太 无聊 了 ，我 听 不 下去 了 。Zhège gùshi tài wúliáo le, wǒ tīng bu xiàqù le.This story is too boring, I can't keep listening.
• 这个 电影 太 暴力 了 ，我 看 不 下去 了 。Zhège diànyǐng tài bàolì le, wǒ kàn bu xiàqù le.This movie is too violent. I can't keep watching it.
• 你 说话 太 恶心 了 ，我 吃 不 下去 了 。Nǐ shuōhuà tài ěxīn le, wǒ chī bu xiàqù le.The way you talk is so disgusting. I can't continue eating my food.
• 这个 宾馆 太 脏 了 ，我 待 不 下去 了 。Zhège bīnguǎn tài zāng le, wǒ dāi bu xiàqù le.This hotel is too dirty. I can't stay here any longer.
• 我 跟 他 过 不 下去 了 ，我 要 离婚 。Wǒ gēn tā guò bu xiàqù le, wǒ yào líhūn.I can't go on like this with him. I want a divorce.

Used with 再

When the adverb 再 comes before the verb, there's an implication that if "things keep going on this way," then something bad is going to happen.

A few examples:

• 你 再 赌 下去 会 输光 的 。Nǐ zài dǔ xiàqù huì shūguāng de.If you keep gambling, you're going to lose all your money.
• 你 再 喝 下去 就 醉 了 。 Nǐ zài hē xiàqù jiù zuì le.If you keep drinking you're going to get drunk.

See also

• Potential complement "bu xia"
• Result complement "-qilai" (起来)
• Resultative Complement "chu(lai)"(出来)
• Direction complement

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 184) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 232-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp. 137) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 184) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 429) [ →buy]

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