We adopt the quark pair creation model to investigate the light meson emissions of several charmonium-like states. The quark pair creation model is applied to the four-body systems, and we calculate the pion/kaon emissions of the $X(4700)$, $Z_c(4430)$, $Y(4230)$, $Y(4360)$, $Y(4390)$ and $Y(4660)$ within the compact tetraquark assumptions. It is found that the pion/kaon decay widths for the $X(4700)$ and $Z_c(4430)$ are relatively small, while the partial decay widths for the resonances $Y(4230)$, $Y(4360)$, $Y(4390)$ and $Y(4660)$ are significant. We expect that our exploration of these decay behaviors can provide useful information for future experimental searches and theoretical interpretations. Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI. Article funded by SCOAP3 and published under licence by Chinese Physical Society and the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science and the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and IOP Publishing Ltd.