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前来 (qián lái) — to come (formal, respectful)

Definition

前来 (qiánlái) is a formal, respectful way to say 'come' — used in announcements, invitations, and official language. Contrast with plain 来: 来 is everyday, 前来 adds formality and politeness.

verb
to come (formal, respectful)

Examples

  • 前来。
    Huān yíng gè wèi qián lái cān jiā huì yì.
    Welcome everyone to come to the meeting.
  • 前来。
    Tā tè dì cóng běi jīng qián lái kàn wǒ.
    He specially came all the way from Beijing to see me.
  • 前来。
    Qǐng nín qián lái zhǐ dǎo wǒ men de gōng zuò.
    Please come and guide our work.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

前qiánforward
来láicome

前 (forward) and 来 (come) give a formal sense of coming toward a point.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

Open 前 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5

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