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回来 (huí lái) — to come back; to return

Definition

回来 means 'come back' — the speaker's location is the destination. Contrast with 回去 ('go back,' away from the speaker) and 过来 ('come over,' toward the speaker).

verb
to come backto return

Examples

  • ，回来。
    Mā ma, wǒ huí lái le.
    Mom, I'm back.
  • 回来？
    Nǐ wǎn shàng huí lái ma?
    Are you coming back tonight?
  • 回来。
    Tā míng tiān cóng xué xiào huí lái.
    He comes back from school tomorrow.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

回huíreturn
来láicome

回 means return and 来 means come; together they describe coming back to where someone is.

Characters in this word

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

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

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

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