Chinese verb · action · first needed at beginner level (A1)
来
lái
to come
Movement towards the speaker: (lái wǒ jiā, come to my place). When ordering, means “bring me”: (lái yì bēi kāfēi).
Speed:
Basic
基本
Coming, now or usually. Negative: (bù lái).
| affirmative | 他每天都来。Tā měi tiān dōu lái. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 他今天不来。Tā jīntiān bù lái. | |
| question | 你来吗？Nǐ lái ma? |
Completed
了
Someone has come or arrived. : hasn't come yet.
| affirmative | 他来了。Tā lái le. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 他还没来。Tā hái méi lái. | |
| question | 他来了吗？Tā lái le ma? |
Experience
过
Something done at least once before. Negative: + verb + 过.
| affirmative | 他来过我家。Tā láiguo wǒ jiā. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没来过这儿。Wǒ méi láiguo zhèr. | |
| question | 你来过中国吗？Nǐ láiguo Zhōngguó ma? |
Future and intention
要 / 会
: someone will (probably) come. Negative: .
| affirmative | 他明天会来。Tā míngtiān huì lái. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 他明天不会来。Tā míngtiān bú huì lái. | |
| question | 他明天会来吗？Tā míngtiān huì lái ma? |
Ability and permission
能 / 可以 / 会
: able to come. (lái bu liǎo): it isn't possible to come.
| affirmative | 我七点能来。Wǒ qī diǎn néng lái. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我明天不能来。Wǒ míngtiān bù néng lái. | |
| question | 你明天能来吗？Nǐ míngtiān néng lái ma? | |
| can't | 他今天来不了。Tā jīntiān lái bu liǎo. |
Examples
- 服务员，来一杯咖啡。Fúwùyuán, lái yì bēi kāfēi.Waiter, a coffee please.
- 欢迎你来我家！Huānyíng nǐ lái wǒ jiā!Welcome to my home!
- 你来北京多久了？Nǐ lái Běijīng duō jiǔ le?How long have you been in Beijing?