Resultative complement "chu(lai)"

As with many resultative complements, 出来 can be used both literally and figuratively.

Structure

Verb + 出来

Examples

When used literally, 出（来） is quite intuitive, and means "to come out of" (in the direction of the speaker):

• 他们 绕 了 四 个 小时，却 一直 走 不 出 迷宫。They wandered for four hours, but still couldn't walk out of the maze.
• 从 银行 跑 出来 了一 个 小偷，口袋 塞 满 了 钞票。A robber ran out of the bank, his bag stuffed full of banknotes.

出（来）and can also figuratively mean for something to come from "nothing into being" from "hidden to visible", or from "unknown to known". In the last case, it is often used to express the speaker has "figured something out".

给出一些例句:

• 我 知道 你 是 四川人，我 都 听 出来 了！( by listening to the speaker's accent the speaker has figured out the listener is from Sichuan.) I know you're Sichuanese. I can hear it!
• 我 给 不 出 答案。 (the speaker is unable to "produce" an answer) I can't give an answer.
• 他 是 个 没有 素质 的 人，这 个 我 早就 看 出来 了。I was able to see it. He is a man without character. I realized this recently.
• 你 想 不 出来 他 有 多 坏。You think, but nothing "comes out". You can't imagine how bad he is.

When 出来 is used directly as a verb, it can also be used literally and figuratively:

• 你 怎么 在 厕所 里 待 了 那么 长 时间，快点 出来！How can you spend so long in the bathroom? Hurry up and come out!
• 考试 分数 出来 了，咱们 赶紧 去 查 吧！(the exam results have "come from nothing into being") The exam results came out. Let's all go look at them!
• 结果 出来 了！The results are out!

See also

• Figurative directional complements: 下去 and 起来
• Direction complement

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 17-9 ) →buy
• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp. 9) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 119) →buy

Websites

• Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese grammar: verb + 出来 (chūlái) construction

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