Result complement "-xiaqu"

下去 (xiàqù) is one of the most often heard result complements. Master how to use it with this article!

Affirmative Form

Structure

下去 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).

Subj. + Verb + 下去

Examples

• 说 下去 。Shuō xiàqù.Keep talking.
• 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 didn't have a face to keep staying.
• 再 玩 下去 你 就 死定 了 。Zài wán xiàqù nǐ jiù sǐ dìng le.You'll be dead if you keep playing.
• 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

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 不 + 下去 + 了

Note that 了 is mostly 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 don't want to 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 scene in the movie is too cruel. 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 with 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 keep living a life with him. I want a divorce.

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]