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来信 (lái xìn) — to write a letter (to someone); to send a letter (to here)

Definition

来信 means 'to write (a letter) to someone' — the action of the letter coming toward the recipient, often used in writing. Often paired with the 离合 verb 来信, e.g. 来了一封信, 经常来信.

verb
to write a letter (to someone)to send a letter (to here)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā gěi wǒ lái le yì fēng xìn.
    He sent me a letter.
  • 。
    Qǐng nǐ jīng cháng lái xìn.
    Please write often.
  • 。
    Wǒ měi yuè dōu gěi fù mǔ lái xìn.
    I write to my parents every month.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

来láisend/come
信xìnletter

来 gives send/come, and 信 gives letter, yielding to send a letter here.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →
Appears in
Mail & Messaging

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