站起來 / 站起来
zhànqǐlai
The English phrase 'stand up' is translated into Chinese as 站起來 / 站起来 (zhànqǐlai). If unsure, use 站起來 / 站起来. Wiktionary also lists 起來 / 起来 (qǐlai) and 起身 (qǐshēn).
Meaning: rise from a sitting position (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 站起來 / 站起来 | zhànqǐlai |
| 起來 / 起来 | qǐlai |
| 起身 | qǐshēn |
You can make a command a polite request by adding 請 (please) before the phrase, as in 請站起來 (please stand up).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 站 (zhàn), meaning 'to stand' and 起來 / 起来 (qǐlai), a directional complement meaning 'upwards'.
Which one should you use?
While 站起來 / 站起来 is the common way to say 'stand up', 起身 (qǐshēn) is a more formal or literary way to describe the act of rising from a seated or lying position. Additionally, 起立 (qǐlì) can be used to mean 'rise' or 'proceed to your feet'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that the action of standing up has been completed, you can add the particle 了 (le) to the end of the phrase, forming 站起來了.
How do you pronounce it?
zhànqǐlai
Did you know?
- While 站起來 (zhànqǐlai) describes the physical act, the word 站 (zhàn) is also used as a noun to describe a 'station' or 'stop' for buses and trains.
- The phrase 站起來 (zhànqǐlai) is frequently used metaphorically in political or social contexts to mean 'standing up for one's rights' or 'rising up' against oppression.
- In Chinese classrooms, the teacher will often command the entire class to stand up using 起立 (qǐlì), which is a specific ritual of respect used in schools and formal ceremonies.
Examples in context
- 同学们，请起立 (tóngxuémen, qǐlì)Students, please stand up
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stand up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
