Resultative complement "chu(lai)"

As with many resultative complements, 出来 (chulai) 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 answerI 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

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

HSK5
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