19
directional verbs
19.1 Structure of directional verbs
Directional verbs consist of an action verb that involves motion (a motion verb) and a directional
suffix.
motion verb + directional suffixFor example, the motion verb 坐 zuò ‘sit’ + the directional suffix 下 xià ‘down’ form the
resultative verb 坐下 zuòxià ‘sit down.’
Directional suffixes are also sometimes referred to as directional complements.C48.819.2 Motion verbs
Motion verbs referring to actions in which the subject moves include:
走 zǒu ‘walk’ 躺 tǎng ‘lie (down)’
跑 pǎo ‘run’ 趴 pā ‘lie on one’s stomach’
跳 tiào ‘jump’ 跪 guì ‘kneel’
飞/飛 fēi ‘fly’ 进/進 jìn ‘enter’
爬 pá ‘climb, crawl’ 出 chū ‘go out’
滚 gǔn ‘roll’ 起 qǐ ‘rise’
站 zhàn ‘stand’ 回 huí ‘return’
坐 zuò ‘sit’ 过/過 guò ‘go across’Motion verbs referring to actions in which the object moves include:
拿 ná ‘take’ 带/帶 dài ‘carry’
送 sòng ‘send (as a gift)’ 搬 bān ‘move’
放 fàng ‘put’ 挂/掛 guà ‘hang’
寄 jì ‘send (by mail)’ 发/發 fā ‘send (an email)’
开/開 kāi ‘drive, open’ 关/關 guān ‘close’
穿 chuān ‘put on (clothing,
on the torso)’戴 dài ‘put on (clothing or accessories such as
earrings, glasses, hearing aids, etc., on head,
neck, arms, or hands)’