V起+O+上嚟

Split Inchoative

Level 5

The V起+O+上嚟 (hei2... soeng5 lai4) pattern is the standard colloquial way to say 'start to' or 'break out into' an action. It is more spontaneous and sudden than the neutral word 開始 (hoi1 ci2).

How It Works

This pattern functions as an aspect marker for the 'inchoative' aspect—meaning the beginning of an event or state.

1. Spontaneity and Suddenness:
It often implies an action happened suddenly or unexpectedly. For example, 'starting to rain' or 'starting to cry' are perfect fits for this pattern.

2. The Split Structure:
The object splits the complement. While Mandarin uses a similar split with 'qǐ...lái', Cantonese uses a three-part complement: 起 (hei2) + Object + 上嚟 (soeng5 lai4). In fast speech, the 上 (soeng5) is often optional, resulting in V+起+O+嚟.

3. Conditional and Evaluative Usage:
A primary use in daily speech is to describe how someone behaves once a certain state begins. This usage often carries a negative, extreme, or uncontrollable connotation. For example, 'He is scary when he gets angry' (發起火上嚟 faat3 hei2 fo2 soeng5 lai4) or 'He is very lazy when he starts being lazy' (懶起上嚟 laan5 hei2 soeng5 lai4).

4. Comparison Usage:
It is frequently used in the comparison frame 同...比(起)上嚟 (tung4... bei2 hei2 soeng5 lai4), which means 'compared with...'. For example: 'Compared with last year...' (同舊年比起上嚟... tung4 gau6 nin4 bei2 hei2 soeng5 lai4).

5. Adjectives:
The pattern can be applied to adjectives to describe entering a state, such as 'getting busy' or 'heating up'.

6. Register:
This is highly colloquial. In formal writing, you would use 開始 (hoi1 ci2), but in daily speech, this pattern is much more natural for spontaneous actions.

Examples (5)

  1. 個BB唔知點解突然喊起上嚟。

    The baby suddenly started crying for no reason.

    Word by Word: That baby not know why suddenly cry start up come.

    Here, 喊 (haam3 - cry) is the verb. Since there is no object, 起上嚟 (hei2 soeng5 lai4) stays together.

  2. 頭先仲好地地，點知忽然落起雨上嚟。

    It was fine just now, but then it suddenly started raining.

    Word by Word: Just now still good-good, how know suddenly fall start rain up come.

    The object 雨 (jyu5 - rain) splits the pattern: 落 (verb) + 起 + 雨 (object) + 上嚟.

  3. 佢發起火上嚟真係好得人驚。

    When he gets angry, he is really scary.

    Word by Word: He emit start fire up come really is very get-people-scared.

    This shows the conditional usage: 'When/if he starts to get angry'. The object 火 (fo2 - fire/anger) splits the pattern.

  4. 天氣開始熱起上嚟喇。

    The weather is starting to heat up.

    Word by Word: Weather start hot start up come already.

    This pattern can be used with adjectives like 熱 (jit6 - hot) to show the beginning of a change in state.

  5. 講起上嚟，你份報告做完未？

    Speaking of which, have you finished your report yet?

    Word by Word: Speak start up come, you CL report do finish not-yet?

    This is a common set phrase for 'speaking of which' or 'now that we are on the subject'.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the object at the end of the phrase.

    落起上嚟雨。
    落起雨上嚟。

    In Cantonese, the object MUST split the complement. While Mandarin also splits its version (qǐ...lái), the Cantonese version is longer (hei2...soeng5 lai4), and the object must come after 起 (hei2).

  • Using '起上嚟' for literal upward movement.

    佢喺床度爬起上嚟。
    佢喺床度爬起身。

    For literal 'upward' movement like getting out of bed, use 起身 (hei2 san1) or 爬上嚟 (paa4 soeng5 lai4). '起上嚟' is specifically for the start of an action or a conditional state.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

V起+O+上嚟Level 5Split Inchoative

Learn This First

To understand the split inchoative pattern 'V起+O+上嚟', you first need to be familiar with the basic '起上嚟' marker which indicates the start of an action. You also need a firm grasp of basic word order, as this pattern specifically deals with how a direct object is placed inside the verbal particle structure.

Words in This Pattern

起上嚟