TongTong
Sign in

来自 (lái zì) — to come from (a place or source)

Definition

A neutral, everyday verb meaning 'to come from' (a place, source, or origin). 出身 is reserved for family/background; 来自 works for places, ideas, or information.

verb
to come from (a place or source)

Examples

  • 来自？
    Zhè ge xiǎng fǎ lái zì nǎ běn shū?
    Which book does this idea come from?
  • 来自。
    Tā lái zì běi jīng.
    He comes from Beijing.
  • 来自。
    Zhè ge xiāo xi lái zì xīn wén.
    This news comes from the news.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

来láicome
自zìfrom

“来” gives coming, and “自” points to the place or source it comes from.

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 →

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 51000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.