到来 (dào lái) — to arrive; (used as a noun) arrival | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

到来 (dàolái) means 'arrival' and is used mainly for events or abstract things (a season, an era, new life), not people reaching a place. It is more literary than 到达, which is the standard verb for arriving at a destination.

verb

to arrive(used as a noun) arrival

Examples

到来。
Bǐ sài de shí kè zhōng yú dào lái le.
The moment of the competition has finally arrived.
到来。
Xīn shēng huó de dào lái ràng wǒ men chōng mǎn xī wàng.
The arrival of a new life fills us with hope.
到来，。
Suí zhe jià qī de dào lái, dà jiā kě yǐ hǎo hǎo xiū xi.
With the arrival of the holiday, everyone can rest well.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

到 and 来 both point to something coming into view or being reached, giving arrival.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

至至zhìto arrive

Sound part声符shēngfú

刀

刀dāo到dào

Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

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.

Appears in

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