想起来 xiǎng qǐlai
想起来（xiǎng qǐlai）means “想起来: to call something back to mind (recall), often suddenly; the negative potential 想不起来 means 'can't recall'.”. 起来 as a complement can mark something emerging into the mind: 想起来 = a memory 'comes up', i. Formation: 想起 + 来（想起来了 / 想不起来）
想起来: to call something back to mind (recall), often suddenly; the negative potential 想不起来 means 'can't recall'.
HSK4Formation
想起 + 来（想起来了 / 想不起来）
Explanation
起来 as a complement can mark something emerging into the mind: 想起来 = a memory 'comes up', i.e. you recall it, typically after having forgotten — 我想起来了 'oh, I remember now'. It can split around the object: 想起他的名字来. The potential forms are very common: 想得起来 'can recall', 想不起来 'can't recall'. Distinguish it from 记得 (to hold in memory, a state) — 想起来 is the moment of retrieval. 起来 is neutral tone.
Examples
Note
起来 neutral tone: xiǎng qǐlai. 想不起来 = fail to recall (bu neutral): xiǎng bu qǐlai.
FAQ
想起来 — what does it mean and how is it used?
想起来: to call something back to mind (recall), often suddenly; the negative potential 想不起来 means 'can't recall'.. 起来 as a complement can mark something emerging into the mind: 想起来 = a memory 'comes up', i.e. you recall it, typically after having forgotten — 我想起来了 'oh, I remember now'. It can split around the object: 想起他的名字来. The potential forms are very common: 想得起来 'can recall', 想不起来 'can't recall'. Distinguish it from 记得 (to hold in memory, a state) — 想起来 is the moment of retrieval. 起来 is neutral tone.
想起来 — how do you form it?
想起 + 来（想起来了 / 想不起来）
想起来 — any usage notes?
起来 neutral tone: xiǎng qǐlai. 想不起来 = fail to recall (bu neutral): xiǎng bu qǐlai.