来

來

láiㄌㄞˊ

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HSK 1 TOCFL 6

Meaning

Meanings

1
to come
2
(used as a substitute for a more specific verb)
3
hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來|回来[hui2 lai5])
4
ever since (as in 自古以來|自古以来[zi4 gu3 yi3 lai2])
5
for the past (amount of time)
6
(prefix) the coming ...; the next ... (as in 來世|来世[lai2 shi4])
7
(between two verbs) in order to
8
(after a round number) approximately

Examples

See it in context

我不知道它是从哪里来的。

我不知道它是從哪裏來的。

I didn't know where it came from.

你是从哪个国家来的？

你是從哪個國家來的？

Which country are you from?

你是从哪个国家来的？

你是從哪個國家來的？

What country are you from?

他用了一些手段来和Nancy私下交谈。

他用了一些手段來和Nancy私下交談。

He contrived a means of speaking to Nancy privately.

让我们来澄清一下这个问题。

讓我們來澄清一下這個問題。

Let's clear up this problem.

Grammar

Grammar using 来

来 + V

Coming to do something with 来 (lai) · A1 · TOCFL a1

Directional complements

A2 · TOCFL a2

出来

Figuring out or recognizing with 出来 · A2 · TOCFL a2

V 来 V 去

V Lai V Qu Back And Forth (V 来 V 去) · B1 · TOCFL b1

Lesson coming later

来

Approximate Number Marker 来 · B1 · TOCFL b1

Lesson coming later

Characters

Character breakdown

未

wèi

not yet

Related: 来

下来

xià lai

to come down

以来

yǐ lái

since (a previous event)

来信

lái xìn

incoming letter

来回

lái huí

to make a round trip

来客

lái kè

guest

来往

lái wǎng

to come and go

来得

lái de

to emerge (from a comparison)

来源

lái yuán

source (of information etc)

Stroke practice

Practice writing 来

Characters

simplified script

Use Loop to watch the stroke order repeatedly, or start the quiz to practice drawing the character yourself. Reset clears any ongoing animation or quiz state.