Result complement "-xiaqu"

Level

B1 / HSK3
Level

B1
Level

HSK3
Similar to
Similar to
- Advanced uses of direction complement "-qilai" (HSK4)
- Direction complement "-qilai" (HSK4)
- Advanced result complements "zhu", "kai", and "chulai" (HSK5)
Used for

Describing actions, Expressing result
Keywords

去, 下, 下去

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.

Sources and further reading

Books

Result complement "-xiaqu"

Contents

Affirmative Form

Structure

Examples

Negative Form

Structure

Examples

Used with 再

See also

Sources and further reading

Books