<p>上去 here functions as preposition (to),  in this case, the object 'words' is omitted</p>

<p>听 (listen) + 上去 (to) </p>

<ul>
<li>(听<strong>上去</strong>)不错 = "It is not bad (listen <strong>to</strong> it)."</li>
</ul>

<p>Example of other [verb +上去] phrases</p>

<ul>
<li><p>看上去 (look at it)</p></li>
<li><p>摸上去 (touch on it)</p></li>
</ul>

<p><em>You can use 起来 instead of 上去 in this sentence
- (听起来)不错 = "It is not bad (listening to) it. "</em>  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T22:15:18.367Z
JFYI: I don't think you will ever hear 'listen onto', only 'listen to'. Maybe in the Bible you might find 'listen unto me'. You are Chinese I presume, so you know better, but wouldn't you rather say '听起来‘ instead of '听来’？
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T22:36:23.513Z
Some English and Chinese grammar structure do not  have corresponding counterpart to each other. 'onto' is the general meaning of '上去' . As you see  in example 摸上去. -- 听上去 should be more accurately translate as " upon listening to". Yes It should be  '听起来‘ instead of '听来’.  I should use 看来 to demonstrate  result complement
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T22:41:42.560Z
I would edit my answer
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T21:28:41.727Z
2017-11-18T22:46:19.430Z
2017-11-18T22:46:19.430Z
Tang Ho
<blockquote>
  <p>... with 听, they equate to "sound" in the phrase "sound good".</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This interpretation is not correct. 听 itself just means 'to listen'. </p>

<p>The word 'sound' is defined in merriam-webster dictionary:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>to make or convey an impression especially when heard; i.e. <em>it sounds
  good to me</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>"to make or convey an impression especially when heard" is the exact equivalence of 听上去 or 听起来 in Chinese. </p>

<p>听 is a verb. 上去/起来 is a verb complement here, expressing/implying what your impression is after you heard something or what you feel after you heard it. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T04:41:23.253Z
2017-11-19T04:41:23.253Z
dan
<p>An English translation of  "听上去不错" is "sounds good".</p>

<p>I understand ”不错“ as "not bad", i.e. "good" (the literal expression "not bad" is quite common in Britain and has the same meaning).</p>

<p>But I don't understand why and how "上去" function in this saying. Can someone please explain?</p>

<p>In more detail, I understand the individual meaning of these characters but not why together, with 听, they equate to "sound" in the phrase "sound good".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T22:34:28.240Z
＂上去＂ is a compound direction complement (复合趋向补语，others：上来、下去／来、进去／来、出去／来、回来／去、过来／去、起来、开来／去、到。。。。来／去）cf。＂实用现代汉语语法＂［上去］  **１。** 趋向意义（一）：表示人或物体通过动作，由低处向高处移动，立足点在底处。例如：（１）听见楼上＂嘭＂的一声，我赶紧跑上楼去。（我--楼下）（２）我看见一个孩子很快地爬上树去。（我--在树下）（３）他在楼上等着呢，你快把文件送上去。（说话人--在楼下） **２。**  趋向意义（二）：表示通过动作，人或物体离开立足点向另一处所移动。例如：用人听见主人叫他，他很快地走上前去问主人有什么事。（＂用人＂离开立足点）（２）一个电影明星来了，我看见很多孩子围了上去。（＂我＂的位置是立足点，＂很多还字＂离开立足点） **３。** 结果意义（基本结果意义）：表示接触、附着以至固定，着眼点在物体的部分或次要物体。也就是说表示通过动作，使物体的一部分或次要物体与整体或主要物体接触、附着以至固定。例如：（１）这副画儿很好看，你贴上去吧。（着眼点在＂墙＂）（２）我也报名，请你把我的名字写上去。（着眼点在＂表格＂）（３）那根绳子太短，把这根接上去。（着眼点在＂那根绳子＂）（４）屋子里灰尘太大，电视机容易脏，把这快布蒙上去。（着眼点在＂电视机＂）
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T22:35:11.877Z
＂上＂的基本结果意义与＂上来＂、＂上去＂相同，但没有着眼点或着眼点不清楚。表示结果意义时，＂上＂比＂上来＂、＂上去＂更常用。 for 上 as direction complement see https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/21239/how-to-explain-usage-of-%e7%85%a7%e5%be%97%e4%b8%8a-%e7%ab%99%e5%be%97%e4%b8%8b  for special meanings of 看上去 see e.g. bkrs:it would appear it seems (that) it seems; it looks as if e.g. 他为何看上去如此凄伤?他看上去强健，其实他的心脏很衰弱。(for E translation and more examples see bkrs), also see previous Q&A:    https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/3624/whats-the-difference-between-%e7%9c%8b%e8%b5%b7%e6%9d%a5-and-%e7%9c%8b%e4%b8%8a%e5%8e%bb
user6065
<grammar>
What is the grammar behind "上去“ in 听上去不错?
# What is the grammar behind "上去“ in 听上去不错?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-18)

An English translation of "听上去不错" is "sounds good".

I understand ”不错“ as "not bad", i.e. "good" (the literal expression "not bad" is quite common in Britain and has the same meaning).

But I don't understand why and how "上去" function in this saying. Can someone please explain?

In more detail, I understand the individual meaning of these characters but not why together, with 听, they equate to "sound" in the phrase "sound good".

**Tags:** grammar
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: ＂上去＂ is a compound direction complement (复合趋向补语，others：上来、下去／来、进去／来、出去／来、回来／去、过来／去、起来、开来／去、到。。。。来／去）cf。＂实用现代汉语语法＂［上去］  **１。** 趋向意义（一）：表示人或物体通过动作，由低处向高处移动，立足点在底处。例如：（１）听见楼上＂嘭＂的一声，我赶紧跑上楼去。（我--楼下）（２）我看见一个孩子很快地爬上树去。（我--在树下）（３）他在楼上等着呢，你快把文件送上去。（说话人--在楼下） **２。**  趋向意义（二）：表示通过动作，人或物体离开立足点向另一处所移动。例如：用人听见主人叫他，他很快地走上前去问主人有什么事。（＂用人＂离开立足点）（２）一个电影明星来了，我看见很多孩子围了上去。（＂我＂的位置是立足点，＂很多还字＂离开立足点） **３。** 结果意义（基本结果意义）：表示接触、附着以至固定，着眼点在物体的部分或次要物体。也就是说表示通过动作，使物体的一部分或次要物体与整体或主要物体接触、附着以至固定。例如：（１）这副画儿很好看，你贴上去吧。（着眼点在＂墙＂）（２）我也报名，请你把我的名字写上去。（着眼点在＂表格＂）（３）那根绳子太短，把这根接上去。（着眼点在＂那根绳子＂）（４）屋子里灰尘太大，电视机容易脏，把这快布蒙上去。（着眼点在＂电视机＂）  
> **username_1**: ＂上＂的基本结果意义与＂上来＂、＂上去＂相同，但没有着眼点或着眼点不清楚。表示结果意义时，＂上＂比＂上来＂、＂上去＂更常用。 for 上 as direction complement see https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/21239/how-to-explain-usage-of-%e7%85%a7%e5%be%97%e4%b8%8a-%e7%ab%99%e5%be%97%e4%b8%8b  for special meanings of 看上去 see e.g. bkrs:it would appear it seems (that) it seems; it looks as if e.g. 他为何看上去如此凄伤?他看上去强健，其实他的心脏很衰弱。(for E translation and more examples see bkrs), also see previous Q&A:    https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/3624/whats-the-difference-between-%e7%9c%8b%e8%b5%b7%e6%9d%a5-and-%e7%9c%8b%e4%b8%8a%e5%8e%bb  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-11-18. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

上去 here functions as preposition (to), in this case, the object 'words' is omitted

听 (listen) + 上去 (to)

* (听**上去**)不错 = "It is not bad (listen **to** it)."

Example of other [verb +上去] phrases

* 看上去 (look at it)
* 摸上去 (touch on it)

*You can use 起来 instead of 上去 in this sentence
- (听起来)不错 = "It is not bad (listening to) it. "*

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: JFYI: I don't think you will ever hear 'listen onto', only 'listen to'. Maybe in the Bible you might find 'listen unto me'. You are Chinese I presume, so you know better, but wouldn't you rather say '听起来‘ instead of '听来’？  
> **username_2**: Some English and Chinese grammar structure do not  have corresponding counterpart to each other. 'onto' is the general meaning of '上去' . As you see  in example 摸上去. -- 听上去 should be more accurately translate as " upon listening to". Yes It should be  '听起来‘ instead of '听来’.  I should use 看来 to demonstrate  result complement  
> **username_2**: I would edit my answer  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-11-19. Score: 1

> ... with 听, they equate to "sound" in the phrase "sound good".

This interpretation is not correct. 听 itself just means 'to listen'.

The word 'sound' is defined in merriam-webster dictionary:

> to make or convey an impression especially when heard; i.e. *it sounds
> good to me*

"to make or convey an impression especially when heard" is the exact equivalence of 听上去 or 听起来 in Chinese.

听 is a verb. 上去/起来 is a verb complement here, expressing/implying what your impression is after you heard something or what you feel after you heard it.


---

