Verb + 起来
Reach for Verb + 起来 in three closely-linked situations: an action moving upward (站起来 stand up, 拿起来 pick up), an action springing into existence (笑起来 burst out laughing, 哭起来 break into tears), or a sensory impression you're forming on the spot (看起来 looks like, 听起来 sounds like, 吃起来 tastes like). The directional 起来 attaches to the verb as a complement, and what follows depends on which of the three meanings you're using. It's everywhere in conversation, especially the 'seems like' usage.
Structure
[VERB] 起来 ([REST OF SENTENCE])
[VERB] qǐlái
How to Think About It
起来 is literally 'rise + come' — and that's the metaphor for every use. Something physically rises (stand up), an action arises out of stillness (laughter erupts), or a judgment rises in your mind from sensing the thing (looks/sounds/tastes good). All three uses share the same shape: VERB + 起来 + optional rest. The 'seems like' use is the only one that can take a predicate after it: 看起来很贵 = looks expensive. The other two finish the verb's action and that's it.
Examples
他突然站了起来。
Tā tūrán zhàn le qǐlái.
He suddenly stood up.
孩子们笑了起来。
Háizimen xiào le qǐlái.
The kids burst out laughing.
这道菜看起来很好吃。
Zhè dào cài kàn qǐlái hěn hǎochī.
This dish looks delicious.
Common Mistake
Learners drop 起来 between the verb and its object ('站起来椅子'), mixing up complement and object placement. With a directional complement like 起来, the object usually slots BETWEEN the verb and 起来, or — for the sensory use — there's no object at all because 起来 modifies the verb itself.
他拿起来书。
他拿起书来。
Don't Confuse With
Verb + 上来
Use 上来 for movement up toward the speaker ('come up here'). 起来 emphasizes the rising action itself, not the direction relative to anyone.
Verb + 出来
Use 出来 for actions emerging out (走出来 walk out, 看出来 figure out). 起来 is about rising or arising, not exiting.
好像 / 仿佛...
Use 好像 in front of a clause to say 'seems like X happened.' Verb + 起来 in the sensory sense attaches to a specific sense verb (看, 听, 吃) and gives an immediate impression.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 听 ___ 不错。 (sounds)
Show answer
起来
Fill in the blank: 请大家 ___ 起来。 (stand)
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站
Arrange: 起来 / 这件 / 衣服 / 漂亮 / 看 / 很
Show answer
这件衣服看起来很漂亮。
Translate: He suddenly remembered her name.
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他突然想起来她的名字。
Describe how a food tastes or looks using Verb + 起来.
Show answer
这个蛋糕吃起来很甜。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 3 Fluentide episodes:
国会里的人都站起来。
国会的人都站了起来。
这听起来是不是有点奇怪？ (Does this sound a bit strange?)