下去

• Pinyin: xià qù
• Hanzi breakdown: 下 = pictograph showing a line below a reference point, meaning down; 去 = meaning to go or to leave

Meaning

To go down. Used literally for downward movement away from the speaker, or as a complement indicating continuation of an action or state.

As a directional complement, 下去 indicates movement from higher to lower away from the speaker. As a resultative complement, it expresses continuation into the future, such as 说下去 (keep talking) or 活下去 (keep living). It contrasts with 下来 which indicates movement toward the speaker or settling into a state.

Examples

1. 这条路太难走了，我不想再走下去。 This road is too difficult to walk. I don't want to keep going.
2. 你继续说下去，我在听。 Keep talking. I'm listening.
3. 水从山上流下去了。 The water flowed down from the mountain.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, encouragement, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这本书很好看，我要读下去。(This book is great, I want to keep reading.)
• 不管多难，都要坚持下去。(No matter how hard it is, you must keep going.)

Don't Say

• 我下去了楼。(Don't insert an object between 下 and 去 like this — say 我下楼去了.)

Origin & History

下 means 'down' and 去 means 'to go'. Together they indicate downward movement away from the speaker, later extended to express continuation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal