<p>This 起来 serves as the resultative complement of 收.</p>

<p>It is required because you cannot say “把被子收_吧”. You must specify in what state you want to put the 被子 via the action 收. e.g. 把被子收<b>进屋子里</b>, 把被子收<b>到柜子里</b>, etc.</p>

<p>You can say “把被子收走” or “把被子收了”, too. The choices of complements make slight difference.</p>

<p>For some reason, when 起 is not followed by an object, you must put 来 or other verbs or prepositions after it. e.g. it's possible to say 收起被子, but you have to say 把被子收起来. (Some speakers may accept 把被子收起, but it sounds a little stilted and incomplete to me. Another similar particle is 回, which is often accompanied by 去. But 把被子收回 still sounds acceptable to me.)</p>

<p>I think the closest definition out of the four is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1. used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This 起来 in 收起来 indicates that, after the completion of the action 收, the blanket is in a temporary state such as <em>protection</em> or <em>preservation</em>. It may sound redundant, but is required by the Chinese grammar.</p>

<p>起 can be consider as “to happen/to arise”, which by itself has almost no meaning. But if you look at many similar collocations like 收起, 亮起, 挂起, 升起, 隆起, 突起, etc. It might be related to another meaning, too:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>2. indicating an upward movement</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Also, don't confuse 把被子收起来 with 收起被子来. The latter means <em>he starts to put the blanket away</em>, which is extremely unlikely to be used in daily conversations. 收起(了)被子 can express the same meaning in many contexts without 来. I don not know what exactly is the function of 来. But this does not have much to do with your question.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-13T17:42:40.260Z
2014-06-13T18:17:16.523Z
2014-06-13T18:17:16.523Z
Yang Muye
<p>"<code>4. bringing things together</code>" sounds the most close one to me. However, it's more accurate to take it as "<strong>used after a verb</strong> (not any verb, usually those involving putting something away e.g. 收，叠，包，藏，躲) <strong>indicating the completion of action or fulfillment of intention</strong>, <em>very similar to <code>up</code> as in <code>wrap up the gift</code></em>". </p>

<p><strong>A rough procedure applicable to most cases:</strong></p>

<p>Regarding <code>Verb+起来</code></p>

<p>If the verb itself indicates some upward movement physically or metaphorically, then "起来 -> <code>2. indicating an upward movement</code>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>physically: 把他举起来 = Lift him up</p>
  
  <p>metaphorically: 我想不起来了 = I can't recall (his name, my phone number, etc.)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If the verb is a perception verb, then "起来 -> <code>3. used after a perception verb expressing preliminary judgement</code>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>这朵花闻起来很香 = This flower smells good</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If the verb involves putting something away, then "起来 -> <code>4. used after a verb indicating the completion of action or fulfillment of intention</code>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>让我们把礼物包起来吧 = Let's wrap up the gift</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Else, "起来 -> <code>1. used after a verb (or adjective) indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state</code>"</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>action: 他们打起来了 = They've started to fight (each other)</p>
  
  <p>state: 天气冷起来了 = It started to get cold</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>The second definition seems the most fundamental one</strong> from which other meanings have developed. Therefore it's understandable that some dictionaries （e.g. <a href="http://hanyu.iciba.com/cizu/10794.shtml" rel="nofollow">iciba definition ③</a>） take <code>我想不起来了</code> as an instance for the fourth definition mentioned above, leaving the most fundamental definition more physical/pure.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-16T05:31:30.607Z
2014-06-16T05:31:30.607Z
null
<p>起来 doesn't make too much difference. You can say 收被子, and it's perfectly understood. The only (subtle) difference may be that 收被子 is usually said with a more imperative tone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T22:21:47.383Z
2014-06-09T22:21:47.383Z
Maykel Fonts
<p>Yes, it's this one:</p>

<pre><code>    1. used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state
</code></pre>

<p>I would argue that the key word in this sentence is 把 (which means to dispose of something). As such, 起来 indicates the beginning of the 把 action which ends in the object, in this case a quilt, being "stored" away.</p>

<p>把 and 起来 often collocate. When paired, these words determine the beginning (起来) and the end (把) of a designated action.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-11T11:27:24.013Z
2014-06-12T05:55:50.010Z
2014-06-12T05:55:50.010Z
Mike Butler
<p>It's this one: </p>

<blockquote>
  <ol>
  <li>used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state</li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>As you said in your question, when attached behind a verb, the phrase 起來 indicates "starting, beginning, about to happen". In this case, therefore, 把被子收起来吧 means "lets start putting the quills away".</p>

<p>In the same manner, 起來 is used in other common phrases to indicate the start of an action. For example, 站起來 means "to stand <em>up</em>", whereas 站 by itself only means "to stand. Similarly, 飛起來 means "to lift off", while 飛 by itself would only mean "to fly".</p>

<p>So when on a plane taxing and lifting off, you could say 正要飛起來 (we're taking off). Once the plane is in mid-flight, you'd have to say 正在飛 (we're flying) instead.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T15:12:22.820Z
I don't quite agree that it can be translated as "starting" in this case...
Derek 朕會功夫
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T15:32:56.210Z
It's what it means, however. You can omit the "starting" bit in translations though, it would still be the same meaning: "lets put the quills away" basically means lets *start* doing that.
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T15:42:53.640Z
Okay let's look at another example. If I say 他停下來了, I believe there's no way you can fit the translation "starting" in it. Same goes to 收起來.
Derek 朕會功夫
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T16:05:06.857Z
Sorry? I'm not sure what 停下來's translation has to do with what 起來 means.
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T16:49:02.740Z
Isn't 收起來 a combination of 收起+來? The meaning of 來 should be the same in both cases.
Derek 朕會功夫
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T17:02:06.360Z
No, it is not. Please refer to what I wrote above on what "the phrase 起來 indicates". The 下來 in your example of 停下來 is actually a similarly-purposed phrase that is also attached behind verbs - for example, 住下來 vs 住
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-11T02:18:47.283Z
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/15022/discussion-between-derek--and-semaphore).
Derek 朕會功夫
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T11:32:32.757Z
2014-06-10T11:47:33.357Z
2014-06-10T11:47:33.357Z
Semaphore
<ol>
<li><p>你 把它 {收,提,拿} 起來</p></li>
<li><p>你 站 起來</p></li>
<li><p>你 起來</p></li>
</ol>

<p>in 1 and 2, 起來 is used as an adverb.</p>

<p>in 3, it is used as a verb.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T01:47:35.437Z
2014-06-10T01:47:35.437Z
RenyuanLyu
<p>來 means "to bring something back". 收起來 therefore means "to put it back [to its original place]" or simply "to put away".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T11:40:56.470Z
來 means "to come". I don't think it has any connotations for bringing back.
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T21:06:18.480Z
2014-06-09T21:06:18.480Z
Derek 朕會功夫
<blockquote>
  <p>把被子收起来吧.</p>
  
  <p>Translation: Let's put the quilt away.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In other circumstances, 起来 means to get up but here there is a different meaning, and from the definitions I can't decide which definition is used here.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state</p></li>
<li><p>indicating an upward movement</p></li>
<li><p>after a perception verb expressing preliminary judgement</p></li>
<li><p>bringing things together </p></li>
</ol>

<p>THX！</p>

<meaning><usage>
What does 起来 mean in this phrase?
# What does 起来 mean in this phrase?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-09)

> 把被子收起来吧.
>
> Translation: Let's put the quilt away.

In other circumstances, 起来 means to get up but here there is a different meaning, and from the definitions I can't decide which definition is used here.

1. used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state
2. indicating an upward movement
3. after a perception verb expressing preliminary judgement
4. bringing things together

THX！

**Tags:** meaning, usage


---

## 7 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-13. Score: 4

This 起来 serves as the resultative complement of 收.

It is required because you cannot say “把被子收\_吧”. You must specify in what state you want to put the 被子 via the action 收. e.g. 把被子收**进屋子里**, 把被子收**到柜子里**, etc.

You can say “把被子收走” or “把被子收了”, too. The choices of complements make slight difference.

For some reason, when 起 is not followed by an object, you must put 来 or other verbs or prepositions after it. e.g. it's possible to say 收起被子, but you have to say 把被子收起来. (Some speakers may accept 把被子收起, but it sounds a little stilted and incomplete to me. Another similar particle is 回, which is often accompanied by 去. But 把被子收回 still sounds acceptable to me.)

I think the closest definition out of the four is:

> 1. used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state

This 起来 in 收起来 indicates that, after the completion of the action 收, the blanket is in a temporary state such as *protection* or *preservation*. It may sound redundant, but is required by the Chinese grammar.

起 can be consider as “to happen/to arise”, which by itself has almost no meaning. But if you look at many similar collocations like 收起, 亮起, 挂起, 升起, 隆起, 突起, etc. It might be related to another meaning, too:

> 2. indicating an upward movement

Also, don't confuse 把被子收起来 with 收起被子来. The latter means *he starts to put the blanket away*, which is extremely unlikely to be used in daily conversations. 收起(了)被子 can express the same meaning in many contexts without 来. I don not know what exactly is the function of 来. But this does not have much to do with your question.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-06-16. Score: 3

"`4. bringing things together`" sounds the most close one to me. However, it's more accurate to take it as "**used after a verb** (not any verb, usually those involving putting something away e.g. 收，叠，包，藏，躲) **indicating the completion of action or fulfillment of intention**, *very similar to `up` as in `wrap up the gift`*".

**A rough procedure applicable to most cases:**

Regarding `Verb+起来`

If the verb itself indicates some upward movement physically or metaphorically, then "起来 -> `2. indicating an upward movement`":

> physically: 把他举起来 = Lift him up
>
> metaphorically: 我想不起来了 = I can't recall (his name, my phone number, etc.)

If the verb is a perception verb, then "起来 -> `3. used after a perception verb expressing preliminary judgement`":

> 这朵花闻起来很香 = This flower smells good

If the verb involves putting something away, then "起来 -> `4. used after a verb indicating the completion of action or fulfillment of intention`":

> 让我们把礼物包起来吧 = Let's wrap up the gift

Else, "起来 -> `1. used after a verb (or adjective) indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state`"

> action: 他们打起来了 = They've started to fight (each other)
>
> state: 天气冷起来了 = It started to get cold

**The second definition seems the most fundamental one** from which other meanings have developed. Therefore it's understandable that some dictionaries （e.g. [iciba definition ③](http://hanyu.iciba.com/cizu/10794.shtml)） take `我想不起来了` as an instance for the fourth definition mentioned above, leaving the most fundamental definition more physical/pure.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-06-09. Score: 3

起来 doesn't make too much difference. You can say 收被子, and it's perfectly understood. The only (subtle) difference may be that 收被子 is usually said with a more imperative tone.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-06-11. Score: 3

Yes, it's this one:
    1. used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state

I would argue that the key word in this sentence is 把 (which means to dispose of something). As such, 起来 indicates the beginning of the 把 action which ends in the object, in this case a quilt, being "stored" away.
把 and 起来 often collocate. When paired, these words determine the beginning (起来) and the end (把) of a designated action.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-06-10. Score: 3

It's this one:

> 1. used after a verb indicating beginning and continuation of an action or a state

As you said in your question, when attached behind a verb, the phrase 起來 indicates "starting, beginning, about to happen". In this case, therefore, 把被子收起来吧 means "lets start putting the quills away".

In the same manner, 起來 is used in other common phrases to indicate the start of an action. For example, 站起來 means "to stand *up*", whereas 站 by itself only means "to stand. Similarly, 飛起來 means "to lift off", while 飛 by itself would only mean "to fly".

So when on a plane taxing and lifting off, you could say 正要飛起來 (we're taking off). Once the plane is in mid-flight, you'd have to say 正在飛 (we're flying) instead.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: I don't quite agree that it can be translated as "starting" in this case...  
> **username_5**: It's what it means, however. You can omit the "starting" bit in translations though, it would still be the same meaning: "lets put the quills away" basically means lets *start* doing that.  
> **username_6**: Okay let's look at another example. If I say 他停下來了, I believe there's no way you can fit the translation "starting" in it. Same goes to 收起來.  
> **username_5**: Sorry? I'm not sure what 停下來's translation has to do with what 起來 means.  
> **username_6**: Isn't 收起來 a combination of 收起+來? The meaning of 來 should be the same in both cases.  
> **username_5**: No, it is not. Please refer to what I wrote above on what "the phrase 起來 indicates". The 下來 in your example of 停下來 is actually a similarly-purposed phrase that is also attached behind verbs - for example, 住下來 vs 住  
> **username_6**: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/15022/discussion-between-derek--and-semaphore).  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2014-06-10. Score: 3

1. 你 把它 {收,提,拿} 起來
2. 你 站 起來
3. 你 起來

in 1 and 2, 起來 is used as an adverb.

in 3, it is used as a verb.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-06-09. Score: 2

來 means "to bring something back". 收起來 therefore means "to put it back [to its original place]" or simply "to put away".

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: 來 means "to come". I don't think it has any connotations for bringing back.  

---

