<p>[action verb + 起来] does indicate beginning of an action, e.g. 动起来 = start to move; 打起来 = start to fight</p>

<p>[verb + 上] doesn't indicate beginning of an action, it indicates 'action toward an object' e.g. 爱上他 = fall in love with him; 算上他 = counting him; 走上絕路 = walk toward an dead end</p>

<p>[起来] could mean [upon]. e.g. 看起来 = upon looking (seems); 聽起来 = upon hearing (sounds); 说起来 = upon mentioning (by the way)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-23T16:03:08.080Z
2020-04-24T02:32:12.877Z
2020-04-24T02:32:12.877Z
Tang Ho
<p>Both 起来 and 上 after a verb should indicate the beginning and continuation of an action or a state. Are there differences in usage? If yes when should I use one instead of the other?</p>

<p>Examples with 上：</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1912 年中华民国成立，孙中山先生当上了临时大总统。
  难道他喜欢上音乐了？
  小王可能爱上了丽丽，可又不好意思说。
  老同学一见面又开始聊上以前的事了。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Examples with 起来：</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>想到老板的动作，我们都笑了起来。
  两位母亲聊了起来。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-24T03:06:00.627Z
Can you give some examples?
trisct
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-26T10:08:34.220Z
I added examples to the question.
kongqi
<grammar><usage><difference><direction-complement>
What’s the difference between 起来 and 上?
# What’s the difference between 起来 and 上?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-23)

Both 起来 and 上 after a verb should indicate the beginning and continuation of an action or a state. Are there differences in usage? If yes when should I use one instead of the other?

Examples with 上：

> 1912 年中华民国成立，孙中山先生当上了临时大总统。
> 难道他喜欢上音乐了？
> 小王可能爱上了丽丽，可又不好意思说。
> 老同学一见面又开始聊上以前的事了。

Examples with 起来：

> 想到老板的动作，我们都笑了起来。
> 两位母亲聊了起来。

**Tags:** grammar, usage, difference, direction-complement

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Can you give some examples?  
> **username_0**: I added examples to the question.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-04-23. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

[action verb + 起来] does indicate beginning of an action, e.g. 动起来 = start to move; 打起来 = start to fight

[verb + 上] doesn't indicate beginning of an action, it indicates 'action toward an object' e.g. 爱上他 = fall in love with him; 算上他 = counting him; 走上絕路 = walk toward an dead end

[起来] could mean [upon]. e.g. 看起来 = upon looking (seems); 聽起来 = upon hearing (sounds); 说起来 = upon mentioning (by the way)


---

