一来 (yī lái) — firstly, in the first place (used to enumerate reasons or purposes, often paired with 二来); as soon as (someone) arrives (literal sense)

Definition

Conventionally used in the formula 一来…二来… to enumerate reasons, meaning 'in the first place … in the second place …'. It can also mean 'as soon as (someone) arrives', with 一 in the sense of 'once'.

adverb
firstlyin the first place (used to enumerate reasons or purposes, often paired with 二来)as soon as (someone) arrives (literal sense)

Examples

  • 一来，。
    yī lái Wǒ xiǎng xué xí zhōng wén, èr lái yě xiǎng liǎo jiě zhōng guó wén huà.
    Firstly, I want to learn Chinese, and secondly, I also want to understand Chinese culture.
  • 一来，，。
    yī lái Tiān qì bù hǎo, èr lái shí jiān tài jǐn, wǒ men jiù bú qù le.
    First, the weather is bad, and second, time is too tight, so we won't go.
  • 一来。
    Tā yī lái jiù bāng wǒ men jiě jué le wèn tí.
    As soon as he arrived, he helped us solve the problem.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

Grammar

Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.