elementaryA2 · TOCFL a2complementgrammar
起
Pattern
Verb + 起 + topic
Key words
Core idea
起 can follow verbs of speaking, thinking, or remembering to mean a topic is brought up.
It often appears in expressions like “speaking of,” “thinking of,” or “recalling.”
How it works
The verb says how the topic comes into the conversation or mind. 起 marks that topic as being raised.
Compare with starting up
This is different from 起来 meaning an action or state starts. Here the focus is a topic being brought up.
Examples
说起台湾，我想到夜市。
Shuōqǐ Táiwān, wǒ xiǎngdào yèshì.
Speaking of Taiwan, I think of night markets.
他想起昨天的事。
Tā xiǎngqǐ zuótiān de shì.
He thought of what happened yesterday.
谈起工作，她很认真。
Tánqǐ gōngzuò, tā hěn rènzhēn.
When work is brought up, she is very serious.
Common mistakes
Avoid
说台湾起，我想到夜市。
Use
说起台湾，我想到夜市。
起 follows the verb when it means bringing up or thinking of a topic.