<p>This infix -起-来 is usually considered a variation of the suffix -起来, and analysed as having an <em>inceptive</em> aspect, also called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inchoative_aspect">inchoative aspect</a>. The <a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=I4BMdO-3eiUC&amp;pg=PA91">sense that it produces</a> is "starting to do", "to begin to" etc.</p>

<p>起来 often interacts with 了 to form a particular viewpoint of an "accomplishment" action as having starting in the past, with the <a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ldJkwn1BndkC&amp;pg=PA221">focus on the start point</a> rather than as a whole.</p>

<p>It should be contrasted with 着, which does not emphasise the start of the action, but presents the action as one continuous state. Additionally, 起来 is different again from 下去, the latter of <a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ldJkwn1BndkC&amp;pg=PA227">which is often called a continuative</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-25T17:06:21.320Z
so, 请客 would be "to serve guests", whereas 请起客来 "to start serving guests" ?
meireikei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-25T17:25:55.227Z
"To start inviting guests", or even "to have managed to invite guests" (as it is an accomplishment event).
Michaelyus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T17:17:29.667Z
I would rather translate it as "Once (starting) doing sth." because this structure indicates a condition/premise for something you are about to say.
Joseph S WU
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-25T16:15:54.200Z
2014-11-25T16:15:54.200Z
Michaelyus
<p>for meaning change due to 起来 following verb see any dictionary e。g。HSK dictionary （汉语水平考试词典）</p>

<p>In cases shown above verb is a 离合词 which just means that 起来 also is separated，but does not seem to change the generally valid effect of adding 起来 following verb。</p>

<p>起来（５）用在动词后面，表示动作完成，并有聚拢，合并在一起的意思 indicate gathering together or closing）：国家终于统一～了｜他把钱都藏～了 </p>

<p>（６）用在动词后面，表示动作开始，并有继续下去的意思（indicate beginning and continuation of an action）：她开始唱～了｜才说几句就哭～了。</p>

<p>（７）用在部分动词后面，表示一种估计，评价的意思（indicate impression，view or estimation）：这个天气看～不会下雨了｜这道题目做～不会很难。</p>

<p>It seems（６） may apply to all ４ given examples  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-25T15:37:09.673Z
2014-11-25T15:37:09.673Z
user6065
<p>in my opinion, "請客" vs. "請起客來" is similar to "do something" vs. "start doing something".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T02:31:55.150Z
2014-11-27T02:31:55.150Z
Jason Wang
<p>请起客来，游起泳来，贬起值来，这些都很weird啊。
这些动词都不是表示趋势和连续动作的，不能和“起来”组合使用。
贬值，游泳，吃惊也都不是动宾组合。
请客是动宾组合的短语。但是中国人也很少把这两个词拆开后往中间加东西。但是可以省略掉宾语“客”，说“我请”，或者把“客”换成“你”“某人”</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-06T08:35:22.807Z
2023-01-06T08:35:22.807Z
hui yuan
<p>I've seen this structure translated as "when" before. E.g:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他的右腿伤了，走起路来很疼 He hurt his right leg, and it's sore when he walks</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-03T08:23:25.350Z
2018-05-03T08:23:25.350Z
Angus Macrae
<p>请客 is a verb-object-verbal phrase (联合词), therefore it is able to seperate both parts and put further structures in between. 
I read I could put 起 in between together with 来 at the end to form a so called "complement". </p>

<p>Now, all i know that i can build such a structure, for instance:</p>

<p>-分类 --> 分起类来</p>

<p>-吃惊 --> 吃起惊来</p>

<p>-贬值 --> 贬起值来</p>

<p>-游泳 --> 游起泳来 </p>

<p>the problem is, i only know how to build this structure, but i can not find any explanation how the meaning is changed by it. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-08T22:56:34.973Z
游起泳来 sounds good to me.

分起类来 is not quite common, but still acceptable.

贬起值来 sounds quite funny.

吃起惊来 is obviously wrong.
Lifu Tang
<grammar><syntax>
How does inserting 起来 into 请客 as in 请起客来 changes the meaning?
# How does inserting 起来 into 请客 as in 请起客来 changes the meaning?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-25)

请客 is a verb-object-verbal phrase (联合词), therefore it is able to seperate both parts and put further structures in between.
I read I could put 起 in between together with 来 at the end to form a so called "complement".

Now, all i know that i can build such a structure, for instance:

-分类 --> 分起类来

-吃惊 --> 吃起惊来

-贬值 --> 贬起值来

-游泳 --> 游起泳来

the problem is, i only know how to build this structure, but i can not find any explanation how the meaning is changed by it.

**Tags:** grammar, syntax

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 游起泳来 sounds good to me.  分起类来 is not quite common, but still acceptable.  贬起值来 sounds quite funny.  吃起惊来 is obviously wrong.  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-11-25. Score: 8

This infix -起-来 is usually considered a variation of the suffix -起来, and analysed as having an *inceptive* aspect, also called the [inchoative aspect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inchoative_aspect). The [sense that it produces](http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=I4BMdO-3eiUC&pg=PA91) is "starting to do", "to begin to" etc.

起来 often interacts with 了 to form a particular viewpoint of an "accomplishment" action as having starting in the past, with the [focus on the start point](http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ldJkwn1BndkC&pg=PA221) rather than as a whole.

It should be contrasted with 着, which does not emphasise the start of the action, but presents the action as one continuous state. Additionally, 起来 is different again from 下去, the latter of [which is often called a continuative](http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ldJkwn1BndkC&pg=PA227).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: so, 请客 would be "to serve guests", whereas 请起客来 "to start serving guests" ?  
> **username_2**: "To start inviting guests", or even "to have managed to invite guests" (as it is an accomplishment event).  
> **username_3**: I would rather translate it as "Once (starting) doing sth." because this structure indicates a condition/premise for something you are about to say.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2014-11-25. Score: 6

for meaning change due to 起来 following verb see any dictionary e。g。HSK dictionary （汉语水平考试词典）

In cases shown above verb is a 离合词 which just means that 起来 also is separated，but does not seem to change the generally valid effect of adding 起来 following verb。

起来（５）用在动词后面，表示动作完成，并有聚拢，合并在一起的意思 indicate gathering together or closing）：国家终于统一～了｜他把钱都藏～了

（６）用在动词后面，表示动作开始，并有继续下去的意思（indicate beginning and continuation of an action）：她开始唱～了｜才说几句就哭～了。

（７）用在部分动词后面，表示一种估计，评价的意思（indicate impression，view or estimation）：这个天气看～不会下雨了｜这道题目做～不会很难。

It seems（６） may apply to all ４ given examples


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-11-27. Score: 1

in my opinion, "請客" vs. "請起客來" is similar to "do something" vs. "start doing something".


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### Answer by username_6 on 2023-01-06. Score: 0

请起客来，游起泳来，贬起值来，这些都很weird啊。
这些动词都不是表示趋势和连续动作的，不能和“起来”组合使用。
贬值，游泳，吃惊也都不是动宾组合。
请客是动宾组合的短语。但是中国人也很少把这两个词拆开后往中间加东西。但是可以省略掉宾语“客”，说“我请”，或者把“客”换成“你”“某人”


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### Answer by username_7 on 2018-05-03. Score: 0

I've seen this structure translated as "when" before. E.g:

> 他的右腿伤了，走起路来很疼 He hurt his right leg, and it's sore when he walks


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