ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to come

lái
7 strokes · Pictograph: a wheat plant with drooping ears · HSK 1

Where 来 comes from

来 drew wheat — the crop itself. Legend says wheat 'came' to the Central Plains from the west, so the grain's picture was borrowed for the verb of arrival and never returned. Every Chinese 'come' is secretly a stalk of wheat.

来 in Chinese culture

来 welcomes: 欢迎再来 'welcome to come again' bows you out of every shop. It also serves food — 来一个宫保鸡丁 'bring one kung pao chicken' is how you order like a local. 来不及 'can't make it in time' is the deadline's verdict; 未来 'not-yet-come' is the future.

Example

回来 huílai — to come back

你什么时候来?
Nǐ shénme shíhou lái?
When are you coming?

How to remember it

Wheat that CAME from far fields — arrival in grain form.

来了来了 'coming, coming!' shouted while not moving is a universally recognized Chinese household phenomenon.

Same sound, different tones

2nd lái
to come
4th lài
to rely

Words unlocked by 来

回来 huílai
to come back
未来 wèilái
future
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