来访 (lái fǎng) — to pay a visit (formal); to visit | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

来访 is a formal verb for 'paying a visit,' often used for guests, officials, or delegations arriving. More ceremonial than 访问, which also covers websites and interviews; broader than 拜访 (reserved for superiors/elders).

verb

to pay a visit (formal)to visit

Examples

来访。
Huān yíng nín lái fǎng wǒ men gōng sī cān guān.
Welcome to visit our company for a tour.
来访，。
Zhè cì lái fǎng de shí jiān hěn duǎn, zhǐ yǒu liǎng gè xiǎo shí.
This visit is very short, only two hours.
来访，。
Wài guó kè rén lái fǎng shí, wǒ men yào rè qíng jiē dài.
When foreign guests visit, we should receive them warmly.

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.

Coming to visit gives the sense of paying a visit.

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 訪; 访 is its simplified writing.

言方訪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yántalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

方fāng訪fǎng

Same sound today

The traditional form 訪 pairs 言 (talk) with 方 to give the sound; the simplified 访 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical part.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Friends & Social

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