来

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Come" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 来
Pinyin: lái
Pronunciation: lai2
English Translation: Come

Usage:

"来 (lái)" is a versatile word in Chinese that can be used in a variety of contexts to mean "come." Here are some common ways to use it:

As a verb:

Chinese: 你来这里做什么？
Pinyin: Nǐ lái zhèlǐ zuò shénme?
English: Why did you come here?

As an invitation:

Chinese: 来，我们一起吃饭吧。
Pinyin: Lái, wǒmen yīqǐ chīfàn ba.
English: Come, let's eat together.

As a request:

Chinese: 来一下。
Pinyin: Lái yīxià.
English: Come here for a moment.

Example:

Chinese: 老师来了。
Pinyin: Lǎoshī lái le.
English: The teacher has come.
Variations:

There are a few variations of "来 (lái)" that you may hear:

过来 (guòlái): This means "come over here" or "come closer."
过来一下 (guòlái yīxià): This is a more polite way to say "come here for a moment."
请来 (qǐng lái): This is a formal way to invite someone to come.
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "来 (lái)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers saying "come" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "来 (lái)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"来 (lái)" can also be used as a noun to mean "turn" or "chance." For example, "到你了 (dào nǐ le)" means "it's your turn."
When used as an invitation, "来 (lái)" is often followed by a verb phrase. For example, "来吃饭 (lái chīfàn)" means "come and eat."
In some regions of China, people may also use "过来 (guòlái)" to mean "come."