Directional Complement with 来/去

Imagine you are standing in a room. If a friend walks into the room toward you, they are "coming in." If they walk out of the room away from you, they are "going out." In Chinese, we express this by sticking 来 or 去 after a verb of motion. The verb tells us *how* they moved (walking, running, climbing). The complement (来 or 去) tells us the *direction* relative to you.

• 来 (lái): The action moves toward the speaker.
• 去 (qù): The action moves away from the speaker.

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. 来 is a green light bringing things to you. 去 is a green light sending things away. It is all about your perspective. If you change your location, the word might change too! Yes, even native speakers have to think about their position sometimes. It is like a 3D movie for your ears.

1. 1Using this grammar is like building a simple Lego set. Follow these steps:
2. 2Start with your main Verb (like 跑 pǎo - run, or 走 zǒu - walk).
3. 3Add the Directional Complement (来 or 去).
4. 4Structure: [Verb] + 来 / 去.
5. 5Example: 进来 (jìn lái) - Come in.
6. 6Example: 进去 (jìn qù) - Go in.
7. 7Wait! There is a special rule for places. If you are moving to a specific location, the place MUST come before 来 or 去.
8. 8Structure with Place: [Verb] + [Place] + 来 / 去.
9. 9Example: 回学校来 (huí xuéxiào lái) - Come back to school.
10. 10Example: 回家去 (huí jiā qù) - Go back home.

Use this whenever there is physical movement involved. Real-world scenarios are everywhere!

• Ordering Food: When the delivery driver arrives, you tell them to "come up" (上来 shàng lái).
• Asking Directions: If someone is lost, you might tell them to "go over there" (过去 guò qù).
• Job Interviews: When the boss calls you into the office, they will say "Please come in" (请进来 qǐng jìn lái).
• Socializing: If you are at a party and see a friend outside, you shout "Come in!" (进来!).

It adds a layer of clarity. It helps people visualize the movement. It is especially useful when you are giving commands or describing your day. "I went back to the office" sounds much better as 我回办公室去 than just 我回办公室.

Don't use these complements if there is no actual direction or movement. If you are just talking about a state of being, skip them. For example, "I like apples" doesn't need a direction. Also, avoid using them with verbs that already imply a fixed result that isn't about location.

• Don't use them with: 是 (shì), 有 (yǒu), or 喜欢 (xǐhuan).
• Don't use them if the destination is the focus, but the movement isn't.

If you are just starting out, keep it simple. Only use them with "action" verbs like walk, run, bring, or return. If you try to use them with "thinking" or "feeling," it gets complicated fast. We will save that for your B1 lessons!

Even smart learners trip up here. The biggest trap is the "Place Position."

• The Mistake: Putting the place at the very end.
• ✗ Wrong: 我回来到家 (Wǒ huí lái dào jiā).
• ✓ Correct: 我回家来 (Wǒ huí jiā lái).

Remember: The place is like a passenger in a car. It sits in the middle, between the verb and the direction.

Another mistake is picking the wrong direction. If you are inside your house and you tell a friend "I am coming home," you use 来. If you are at work and tell your boss "I am going home," you use 去. If you mess this up, your friend might wait for you at the wrong door! Think of it like a mirror; it always reflects where *you* are standing right now.

You might know the simple verbs 来 and 去 on their own.

• Simple: 我去学校 (I go to school).
• Directional: 我进学校去 (I enter school - moving away from the speaker).

The directional version is more descriptive. It tells us you are *entering* the building. The simple version just says you are going there.

Also, don't confuse this with 到 (dào). 到 emphasizes arriving at a destination. 来/去 emphasizes the perspective of the movement. It is the difference between "I arrived" and "I came over here."