Directional Complement - Simple

This grammar point acts like a magnet. The speaker is the magnetic pole. Every movement verb needs to decide its relationship to you. Are you inside the house? If someone enters, they are coming toward you. Are you outside? If they enter, they are going away from you. You do not need complex prepositions here. Just attach 来 (lái) or 去 (qù) to the end of a verb. It tells the listener exactly where everyone is standing. It is like a secret code for spatial awareness. Even if you do not say "I am here," the grammar says it for you.

1. 1Start with a movement verb like 进 (enter) or 出 (exit).
2. 2Add 来 if the action moves toward the speaker.
3. 3Add 去 if the action moves away from the speaker.
4. 4The basic formula is: [Verb] + 来 / 去.
5. 5If there is a place (like a room), put it before the complement.
6. 6The formula with a place is: [Verb] + [Place] + 来 / 去.

Use this whenever you describe physical movement. It is perfect for daily life scenarios. Imagine you are at a cafe. You see a friend outside. You shout, 你进来吧 (Come in!). You are inside, so they move toward you. Use it when ordering food delivery too. You want the driver to 上来 (come up) to your floor. Use it when asking for directions. If someone needs to go upstairs away from you, tell them to 上去. It is also great for job interviews. You might tell a candidate to 进来 (come in) to your office. It makes your Chinese sound natural and fluid.

Do not use these with static verbs. Verbs like 是 (to be) or 有 (to have) do not move. You cannot "be toward" someone in this way. Also, avoid using them for purely abstract thoughts. While some advanced patterns use them metaphorically, stick to physical movement for now. If there is no change in location, you do not need a complement. If you are just sitting and eating, just say 吃. No 来 or 去 required. It is like a traffic light. If there is no traffic, you do not need the light.

The biggest headache is the location of the object. Many people say 进来教室 (Enter come classroom). This is a classic "oops" moment. In Chinese, the place must come before the direction. You should say 进教室来. Think of the place as a hurdle. The action has to jump over the place to reach the direction. Another mistake is forgetting your own position. If you are upstairs, do not tell someone to 上去. You are the destination! Tell them to 上来. Even native speakers might slip up if they are distracted. But you? You are going to be a pro.

Do not confuse this with the word "to go" (去) as a main verb. In 我要去商店 (I want to go to the store), 去 is the star. In a directional complement, 去 is just the sidekick. It follows another verb to show the path. Also, distinguish this from "Resultative Complements." Those show if an action finished. Directional complements only show where it went. It is the difference between "I finished the book" and "I brought the book here."