Meanings of 來
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About 來
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Podcast: 來
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AI Study Notes for 來
到 (dào, to arrive) - use 來 (lái) when emphasizing movement towards the speaker, whereas 到 (dào) focuses on reaching a destination.
Be careful not to confuse 來 (lái) with 去 (qù), which means 'to go' or 'to leave.' 來 is often used in both formal and informal settings, but is more common in everyday conversation. Typical collocations include 來這裡 (lái zhèlǐ - come here) and 來吧 (lái ba - come on).
While 來 is not officially listed in HSK levels, understanding it is crucial for beginners as it frequently appears in daily conversations. Focus on using 來 in phrases about movement and future intentions, and practice with verbs that often accompany it.
Learners often misuse 來 (lái) when trying to express leaving, confusing it with 去 (qù). For example, saying '我來去' (Wǒ lái qù - I come go) instead of '我去' (Wǒ qù - I go) is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 來
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Etymology of 來
Simplified form of 來. Pictograph of wheat. The current meaning "come" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "wheat" is now written as 麥.
A wheat plant that has just borne fruit; compare 来
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 來
Simplified form of 來. Pictograph of wheat. The current meaning "come" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "wheat" is now written as 麥.
- 1The giveawayA wheat plant that has just borne fruit; compare 来
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 來
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How to say to arrive, to come, to return; in the future, later on in Chinese
“to arrive, to come, to return; in the future, later on” in Chinese is來
The character 來 (lái) means 'to come' or 'to arrive.' It is often used to indicate movement towards the speaker or the current location, and can also imply the future or something that will happen later. In various contexts, it can denote returning to a place or the action of coming toward someone or something.
When to use 來
Be careful not to confuse 來 (lái) with 去 (qù), which means 'to go' or 'to leave.' 來 is often used in both formal and informal settings, but is more common in everyday conversation. Typical collocations include 來這裡 (lái zhèlǐ - come here) and 來吧 (lái ba - come on).
來 or something close to it
到 (dào, to arrive) - use 來 (lái) when emphasizing movement towards the speaker, whereas 到 (dào) focuses on reaching a destination.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 來 (lái) when trying to express leaving, confusing it with 去 (qù). For example, saying '我來去' (Wǒ lái qù - I come go) instead of '我去' (Wǒ qù - I go) is incorrect.
Write 來
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Word Family of 來
Compound Meaning
What does 来 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 來
You can use 來 to indicate direction, such as '他來了' (Tā lái le) meaning 'He has come.'
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