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想来 (xiǎng lái) — presumably; it may be assumed that; I imagine that

Definition

想来 is a hedge meaning 'presumably / I imagine' — used to soften a guess or inference. Compare 看来 (xiǎnglái), which marks a judgement based on what is visible or apparent.

verb
presumablyit may be assumed thatI imagine that

Examples

  • 想来。
    xiǎng lái Tā yīng gāi yǐ jīng dào le.
    Presumably he has already arrived.
  • ，想来。
    Tā méi lái shàng kè, xiǎng lái shì shēng bìng le.
    She didn't come to class; presumably she is sick.
  • 想来。
    Zhè jiàn shì xiǎng lái méi nà me jiǎn dān.
    This matter presumably isn't that simple.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

想xiǎngthink
来láicome

想 “think” plus 来 “come” suggests a conclusion coming from thinking, hence presumably.

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
心心xīnheart, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.

Open 想 →

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
Thinking & Cognition

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