HSK 4
V 起来
V qilai
to start to V
Structure
Verb + 起来 / Verb + 起 + Object + 来
How it works
The construction 'Verb + 起来' is used to indicate the beginning and continuation of an action or state. It suggests that the action has started and is now in progress. Note that if there is an object, it must be placed between '起' and '来'.
Examples
听完这个笑话，大家忽然笑了起来。
Tīng wán zhège xiàohuà, dàjiā hūrán xiào le qǐlái.
After hearing this joke, everyone suddenly started laughing.
天突然下起雨来了。
Tiān tūrán xià qǐ yǔ lái le.
It suddenly started raining.
一回家他就忙起家务来了。
Yì huí jiā tā jiù máng qǐ jiāwù lái le.
As soon as he got home, he started becoming busy with housework.
Common mistakes
Placing the object after '起来' (e.g., saying '笑起来那个笑话' instead of '笑起那个笑话来') is incorrect.
Tip
Think of '起来' as an upward movement; just as you stand up to start something, the action 'rises' into existence.
More HSK 4 grammar
See V 起来 in real Chinese
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