Verb + 下去 (to continue / carry on)

• Pinyin: xiàqu
• Formation: Subject + Verb (+ 不) + 下去 (+ 了)
• Hanzi breakdown: 下 = 一 (horizon) with a stroke below indicating downward direction

Meaning

The complement 下去 after a verb indicates the continuation of an action from the present into the future. It conveys the sense of 'to keep doing' or 'to carry on.' When negated with 不, the pattern Verb + 不下去 means the action cannot continue.

下去 has two distinct uses as a complement. In its directional sense, it means literal downward movement (坐下去 = sit down). In its more abstract continuation sense — the focus of this grammar point — it indicates an action extending from now forward (说下去 = keep talking, 活下去 = keep living). The negative form Verb + 不下去 expresses that continuation is impossible or unbearable: 吃不下去 (can't keep eating), 住不下去 (can't keep living somewhere). Adding 了 at the end emphasizes that the situation has reached a breaking point. This pattern contrasts with 下来, which indicates continuation from the past up to now.

Examples

1. 这本书太有意思了，我想继续读下去。 This book is so interesting — I want to keep reading.
2. 工作压力太大了，他觉得坚持不下去了。 The work pressure is too much — he feels like he can't keep going.
3. 虽然很累，她还是跑下去了。 Although she was very tired, she kept running.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 只要你努力，就应该坚持下去。
• 这个电影太无聊了，我看不下去了。
• 生活再难也要过下去。

Don't Say

• 他说下去了一个小时。(When 下去 expresses continuation, it does not take a duration phrase directly after it — say 他继续说了一个小时 or 他又说了一个小时) → 他继续说了一个小时。
• 我下去读这本书。(下去 is a complement that follows the verb, not a separate verb placed before the main verb — say 读下去) → 我继续读下去。

Origin & History

下去 literally means 'go down,' combining 下 (down) and 去 (go away). Its metaphorical extension to mean 'continue onward' likely developed from the spatial metaphor of an action proceeding forward along a timeline, moving away from the present moment.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal