HSK 3.0 · LEVEL 1
起来
To rise up, to get up, or an auxiliary verb indicating the start or completion of an action.
Free Chinese vocabulary flashcard · HSK 1
Why does 起来 look like this?
The first character 起 (qǐ) consists of 走 (to walk) and 己 (self), suggesting the action of getting oneself up or starting to move. The second character 来 (lái) originally depicted a wheat plant, but is now used to mean 'to come'. Together, '起来' indicates an upward movement or the beginning of an action!