下去

xià qù

Result complement "-xiaqu"

下去 means carrying on with something already under way.

Verb + 下去

How it works

这个故事太无聊了,我听不下去了 — this story is so boring I can't keep listening.

It's about continuation, not direction: 说下去 (go on talking), 活下去 (survive), 学下去 (keep studying).

In its potential form 不下去 says you can't bear to continue, which is where it shows up most.

Examples

  • zhè ge gù shì tài wú liáo le, wǒ tīng bú xià qù le

    这个故事太无聊了,我听不下去了。

    This story is so boring I can't listen to any more.

  • nǐ shuō xià qù, wǒ zài tīng

    你说下去,我在听。

    Go on, I'm listening.

  • zhè yàng xià qù bù xíng

    这样下去不行。

    Things can't go on like this.