来 vs 去 (lái vs qù): toward or away from the speaker
来 and 去 are directional verbs indicating movement relative to the speaker. 来 (lái) means 'to come'—movement toward the speaker's current or intended location. 去 (qù) means 'to go'—movement away from the speaker's current location or to a location the speaker is not associated with. The choice depends on whether the speaker is, or will be, at the destination.
来 and 去 both describe movement, but they anchor direction to the speaker's perspective. Use 来 when the movement is toward the speaker—where the speaker currently is or will be. Use 去 when the movement is away from the speaker, or to a place the speaker is not personally connected to. In invitations or future plans, the speaker's anticipated presence at the destination determines which verb to use; 来 is common for events the speaker will attend, even if not physically there yet.
When to use each
Use 来 for movement toward the speaker's current location or intended future location. It is also used when the speaker will be at the destination, such as inviting someone to your own party or an event you plan to attend. In commands, 来 means 'come here'.
In questions like 你来吗？ ('Are you coming?'), 来 implies the speaker expects to meet the listener at the location, whether the speaker is already there or will arrive later.
Use 去 for movement away from the speaker's current location, or to a destination the speaker is not associated with (e.g., not attending or not the host). It is standard for leaving the current place or describing travel to a place the speaker is not at. In commands, 去 means 'go there'.
At a glance
| 来 | 去 | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic direction | Toward the speaker's current or intended location | Away from the speaker's current location |
| Use with place names | Speaker is at or will be at the place | Speaker is not at and will not be at the place |
| Invitation context | Used when the speaker is hosting or will attend the event | Used when the speaker is not hosting or attending the event |
| Directional complements (e.g., 带来/带去) | 带来 (dài lái) = bring toward speaker | 带去 (dài qù) = take away from speaker |
| Questions about motion | 你来吗？= 'Are you coming?' (toward speaker) | 你去吗？= 'Are you going?' (away from speaker) |
Examples
- 来你什么时候来我家？Nǐ shénme shíhòu lái wǒ jiā?When are you coming to my house?Speaker is at home (or will be) – uses 来.
- 去我明天去你家。Wǒ míngtiān qù nǐ jiā.I will go to your house tomorrow.Speaker is leaving their current location – uses 去.
- 来你来参加我的生日派对吗？Nǐ lái cānjiā wǒ de shēngrì pàiduì ma?Are you coming to my birthday party?Speaker is the host, so deictic center is the party location – uses 来.
- 去我去参加他的生日派对。Wǒ qù cānjiā tā de shēngrì pàiduì.I am going to his birthday party.Speaker is not the host and not at the party yet – uses 去.
- 来她带来了一些水果。Tā dài lái le yīxiē shuǐguǒ.She brought some fruit (toward the speaker).Directional complement 来 indicates movement toward the speaker.
- 去他把书带去了图书馆。Tā bǎ shū dài qù le túshūguǎn.He took the books to the library (away from speaker).Directional complement 去 indicates movement away from the speaker.
Common mistakes
- Using 来 when referring to going to a place the speaker is not at and will not be at (e.g., '我来图书馆' when at home and not going – should be 去).
- Using 去 when inviting someone to an event you host or attend (e.g., '你去我的生日派对？' – should be 你来我的生日派对？).
- Confusing 带来 (dài lái, bring toward) with 带去 (dài qù, take away) – opposite directions.
- Using 来 in a command to mean 'go' (e.g., '来那边' – should be 去那边).
FAQ
- When do I use 来 vs 去?
- Use 来 for movement toward you (your current or future location). Use 去 for movement away from you or to a place you are not personally connected to. For example, if you are at home, say '你来我家' (come to my home). If you are going to a friend's house, say '我去朋友家' (I go to friend's house).
- Can I use 来 if I'm not currently at the destination?
- Yes. If you will be at the destination, 来 is correct because your future presence establishes the 'speaker's location' as the reference point. For instance, '你来参加我的派对吗？' (Are you coming to my party?) is fine even if you are not at the venue yet.
- How do I invite someone to my party? Should I use 来 or 去?
- Use 来. Since you are hosting or will attend the event, the deictic center is that event. Say '你来我的派对吗？' (Are you coming to my party?). Using 去 ('你去我的派对吗？') would sound like you are not associated with the party – as if you are asking whether someone plans to go there without you.
- What is the difference between 带来 and 带去?
- 带来 (dài lái) means 'bring' – moving something toward the speaker. 带去 (dài qù) means 'take' – moving something away from the speaker. Compare: '他带来一本书' (He brought a book here) vs '他带去一本书' (He took a book away).