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。
• 从 银行 跑 出来 了一 个 小偷，口袋 塞 满 了 钞票。

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.)
• 我 给 不 出 答案。 (the speaker is unable to "produce" an answer)
• 他 是 个 没有 素质 的 人，这 个 我 早就 看 出来 了。
• 你 想 不 出来 他 有 多 坏。

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！
• 考试 分数 出来 了，咱们 赶紧 去 查 吧！ (the exam results have "come from nothing into being".
• 结果 出来 了！

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

HSK5