▎出, chū, (Ptc), Verb Particle, to have emerged

 

Function When the verb particle 出 is attached to an action verb, it carries the meaning of something coming into existence or consciousness.

1 我不好意思說出的話，他都幫我說了。

Wǒ bùhǎoyìsi shuōchū de huà, tā dōu bāng wǒ shuō le.

The things I was too embarrassed to say, he said for me.

2 一樣的衣服，他穿起來，總是能穿出跟別人完全不同的感覺。

Yíyàng de yīfú, tā chuānqǐlái, zǒngshì néng chuānchū gēn biérén wánquán bùtóng de gǎnjué.

When he wears the same garment as someone else, he always exudes a totally different feeling.

3 他用有機商店買回來的材料做出又酸又辣的泡菜。

Tā yòng yǒujī shāngdiàn mǎihuílái de cáiliào zuòchū yòu suān yòu là de pàocài.

He made sour and spicy kimchi out of ingredients purchased at an organic shop.

4 我寫不出這麼讓人感動的歌。

Wǒ xiěbùchū zhème ràng rén gǎndòng de gē.

I could never write such a powerful song.

5 那位教授花了十年的時間，才研究出這種新藥。

Nà wèi jiàoshòu huāle shí nián de shíjiān, cái yánjiūchū zhè zhǒng xīn yào.

That professor spent a decade on research before coming up with this type of new medicine.

 

Usage

(1) The particle 出 is different from 出 as a verb, which has the following properties.

1 出 indicates spatial movement from inside to outside, as V1 in V1V2 (e.g., 出來 ‘come out’, 出去 ‘go out’).

2 出 as V2 in V1V2V3 (e.g., 拿出去náchūqù ‘take it out and away’, 走出去zǒuchūqù ‘walk out of’, 跑出來pǎochūlái ‘run out towards me’, 把書拿出房間去Bǎ shū náchū fángjiān qù ‘get the books out of this room’.

(2) 來 is needed in forming V1V2V3, when the particle 出 appears with 把 or when the object is moved to the front, e.g., 你應該把心裡的話說出來。Nǐ yīnggāi bǎ xīnlǐ de huà shuōchūlái. Or 心裡的話，你應該說出來。Xīnlǐ de huà, nǐ yīnggāi shuōchūlái. ‘You should speak out what’s on your mind.’ In other situations, 來 is optional, e.g., 他研究了很久，才研究出（來）新的做法。Tā yánjiū le hěn jiǔ, cái yánjiūchū (lái) xīn de zuòfǎ. ‘He researched it for a long time before he thought (out) a new way.’

(3) The complememt ‘出（來）’ can also be used in the potential form. E.g.,

A：你想得出辦法嗎？

Nǐ xiǎngdechū bànfǎ ma?

Can you think out a way?

B：我想不出來。

Wǒ xiǎngbùchūlái.

I can’t think one out.

(4) Watch out for the differences between the particles 出 and 起. The first refers to the emergence of something out of nowhere, while the second refers to something that used to be known but returns to his consciousness or awareness. Compare the examples below:

1 我想了很久才想出一個辦法來。

Wǒ xiǎngle hěn jiǔ cái xiǎngchū yí ge bànfǎ lái.

I thought for a long time before I thought of a way. (出= from nothing to something, out of thin air)

2 他說過一個不錯的辦法，我差一點忘了。幸虧現在想起來了。

Tā shuōguò yí ge bùcuò de bànfǎ, wǒ chàyìdiǎn wàng le. Xìngkuī xiànzài xiǎngqǐlái le.

I almost forgot. He mentioned a good method. Luckily, I thought of it just now. (起= already in existence, new awareness)