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Directional Complement is a complement used to describe the direction of a verb. However, you may notice that some Directional Complements have additional meanings beyond it. Take the simple directional complement “上” “下” “出” “起” as examples. They are not only a center-focused directional complement but also grammaticalized in some situations.
Basic Pattern:
Verb + 上/ 下 / 出 / 起……
“上” can also be used after a verb to indicate finishing, fulfilling or the time to start a movement or a condition which can be seen in phrases like “关上” “考上” “爱上” etc..
e.g.
快把门关上。(Kuài bǎ mén ɡuānshànɡ.) Close the door quickly.
>> “关上” means “to close” in which “上” indicates the finishing of the action “关”.
她考上了大学。(Tā kǎoshànɡ le dàxué.) She was admitted by the university.
>> “考上” means “to pass” in which “上” indicates the fulfillment of her goal.
弟弟爱上了摇滚音乐。(Dìdi àishànɡ le yáoɡǔn yīnyuè.) Younger brother has hots in rock music.
>> “爱上” means “to fall in love with; to love” in which “上” shows the starting-point of the condition of “爱摇滚音乐”.
“下” after a verb can indicate removal or a stable condition caused by action of writing, drawing or memorizing etc.. which often showed in phrases like “摘下” “留下” “住下” “写下” “生下” and so on.
e.g.
你能摘下帽子吗？(Nǐ nénɡ zhāixià màozi mɑ?) Could you take off your hat?
>> “摘下” means “to take off” in which “下” indicates removal in space.
把伞留下！(Bǎ sǎn liúxià!) Keep the umbrella down!
>> “留下” means “keep down; remain” in which “下” indicates the “伞” was kept down after finishing the action “留”.
他们在纸上写下了答案。(Tāmen zài zhǐshànɡ xiěxià le dá’àn.) They wrote down their answer on the paper.
>> “写下” means “write down” in which “下” indicates the “答案” was left here after finishing the action “写”.
“出” after a verb can mean identification or something appears from nothing which can be seen in phrases like “看出” “听出” “写出” “想出” “画出” “游出” “打出” etc..
e.g.
你能看出这是什么东西吗？(Nǐ nénɡ kànchū zhè shì shénme dōnɡxi mɑ?) Could you identify it?
>> “看出” means “to identify” in which “出” indicates identify something.
他想出了一个好办法。(Tā xiǎnɡ chūle yí ɡè hǎo bànfǎ.) He thought out a good idea.
>> “想出” means “to think out” in which “出” indicates there is no idea before but now he got it.
这次比赛，他打出了个人最好成绩。(Zhè cì bǐsài, tā dǎchū le ɡè rén zuì hǎo chénɡjì.) He got the best achievement of his own record in the match.
>> “打出” means “to fight; to hit” in which “出” indicates “个人最好成绩” is a new situation which doesn’t exist before.
“起” after a verb can mean the result of remembering or the beginning of a movement or a condition. We can see it in the phrases like “想起” “站起” “提起” “建立起” “吹起” “唱起” etc..
e.g.
他让我想起了我的朋友。(Tā rànɡ wǒ xiǎnɡqǐ le wǒ de pénɡyou.) He made me recollect my friend.
>> “想起” means “to recollect” in which “起” indicates the result of “想”.
是他帮你们建立起这一切的。(Shì tā bānɡ nǐmen jiànlìqǐ zhè yíqiè de.) It is him who helps you establish all of these things.
>> “建立起” means “to establish; to build” in which “起” indicates the beginning of the action “建立”.
他又唱起了那首歌。(Tā yòu chànɡqǐ le nà shǒu ɡē.) He sang that song again.
>> “唱起” means “to sing” in which “起” indicates the beginning of the action “唱”.
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