下去 vs 下来: what is the difference?
下去 can mean keep going, as in 说下去. 下来 means something settles or comes to rest, as in 安静下来 or 坐下来。
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 下去 | xià qù | After a verb it means keep doing it from now on. | V + 下去 |
| 下来 | xià lái | After a verb it can mean settling or coming to rest, or movement down toward the speaker. | Verb + 下来 |
下去 (xià qù)
After a verb it means keep doing it from now on.
Structure: V + 下去
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这件事很重要，你要坚持做下去。 | Zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòng yào, nǐ yào jiān chí zuò xià qù. | This matters, so keep doing it. |
| 请你说下去，我在听。 | Qǐng nǐ shuō xià qù, wǒ zài tīng. | Please go on, I am listening. |
| 天气这么热，我不想再走下去了。 | Tiān qì zhè me rè, wǒ bù xiǎng zài zǒu xià qù le. | It is so hot that I do not want to keep walking. |
Not: 请继续说下来。 To continue an action use 下去; 下来 does not mean continue.
下来 (xià lái)
After a verb it can mean settling or coming to rest, or movement down toward the speaker.
Structure: Verb + 下来
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 天渐渐黑下来了。 | Tiān jiàn jiàn hēi xià lái le. | It is slowly getting dark. |
| 他从楼上走下来。 | Tā cóng lóu shàng zǒu xià lái. | He walked down from upstairs. |
| 你先坐下来，慢慢说。 | Nǐ xiān zuò xià lái, màn màn shuō. | Sit down first and tell it slowly. |
Not: 天黑下去了。 Something settling or getting dark takes 下来, not 下去: 天黑下来了。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Complex directionals: V+起来/下去/出来 (HSK 4) and Directional Complements: Extended Stative Meanings (HSK 6) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 按照 vs 根据 · 不敢 vs 不能 · 及时 vs 立刻 · 记住 vs 记得 · 渐渐 vs 逐渐 · 将近 vs 大约 · 竟然 vs 居然 · 既然 vs 因为 · 看不懂 vs 没看懂 · 了 vs 过 · 连…都 vs 连…也 · 没有 vs 不如 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 下去 and 下来?
下去 can mean keep going, as in 说下去. 下来 means something settles or comes to rest, as in 安静下来 or 坐下来。
What is the difference between 下来 and 下去?
Both point downwards, but figuratively 下去 means to continue from now on (说下去, keep talking) while 下来 means to settle or to last until now (安静下来, 坚持下来).
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