# 來

| 來 | U+4F86, &#20358; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4F86 |
| ← 侅 [U+4F85] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 侇 → [U+4F87] |
| 來 | U+F92D, &#63789; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F92D |
| ← 郎 [U+F92C] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 冷 → [U+F92E] |

## Translingual

| Traditional | 來 |
| Simplified | 来 |
| Japanese | 来 |
| Korean | 來 |

### Han character

來 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+6, 8 strokes, cangjie input 木人人 (DOO), four-corner 4090$_8$, composition ⿻木从)

#### Derived characters

* 倈 唻 婡 崍 徠 𢜞 𢯦 淶 猍 䧒 棶 琜 睞 𮋳 䂾 䅘 䋱 𦩑 𧍍 䚞 誺 𤳆 𨂐 錸 㯤 𦠘 𣛤 騋 𩳳 鯠 𪘨 逨 勑 郲 猌 𢆠 䚅 𤳇 顂 鶆 𠌊 麥 賚 萊 箂 庲 㾢 憗 瀒 斄 𤀛 𪰪

#### Descendants

* 来

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 101, character 16
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 581
* Dae Jaweon: page 214, character 8
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 141, character 8
* Unihan data for U+4F86
* Unihan data for U+F92D

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 來 :
| Shang | Western Zhou | Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Oracle bone script | Bronze inscriptions | Chu slip and silk script | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
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| References: Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including: Shuowen Jiezi (small seal), Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions), Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script). |||||
| | Old Chinese |
| 來 | *m·rɯːɡ |
| 萊 | *rɯː, *rɯːs |
| 淶 | *rɯː |
| 徠 | *rɯː, *rɯːs |
| 崍 | *rɯː |
| 郲 | *rɯː, *ruːlʔ, *ruːlʔ |
| 騋 | *rɯː |
| 猍 | *rɯː |
| 鯠 | *rɯː |
| 鶆 | *rɯː |
| 庲 | *rɯː |
| 棶 | *rɯː |
| 斄 | *rɯː, *rɯ |
| 逨 | *rɯː, *rɯːs |
| 麳 | *rɯː |
| 唻 | *rɯːʔ, *rrɯː |
| 賚 | *rɯːs |
| 睞 | *rɯːs |
| 勑 | *rɯːs |
| 誺 | *rɯːs, *r̥ʰɯ, *r̥ʰɯs, *r̥ʰɯs |
| 倈 | *rɯ |
| 憖 | *ŋrɯns |
| 猌 | *ŋrɯns |
| 麥 | *mrɯːɡ |
Pictogram (象形) of wheat – original character of 麥 (OC *mrɯːɡ, “wheat”) or 麳 (OC *rɯː, “wheat”). The line in the middle represents the ear, the two lines pointing upwards represent leaves, and the lines pointing downwards represent the stem and roots. An additional horizontal line was often added at the top end of the character, possibly used to emphasize the ear of the wheat. Compare 禾; both are unrelated to 釆.
This character has been borrowed for “to come” since the oracle bone script. During the Western Zhou and Warring States periods, additional semantic components, such as 止 (“foot”) or 辵 (“to walk”), were added to differentiate the original sense from the borrowed sense. However, these additions were not inherited in later scripts.
Some consider the derivative 麥 from the addition of 夊 (“to walk slowly”) to be the original form for the meaning “to come”. If so, their meanings have interchanged due to frequent use of 來 for “to come”.
Shuowen connects “wheat” and “to come” from a mythological standpoint: 天所來也 (“it comes from the heavens”). This may be supported by archaeological evidence, which suggests that wheat is not native to China, but originated in the Fertile Crescent.
來 and 麥 have both been reconstructed to begin with *mr- in Old Chinese. The former retains the liquid as /l/, while the latter retains the nasal /m/.

### Etymology 1

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *la-j ~ ra (“to come”) (STEDT). Cognate with 迨 (OC *l'ɯːʔ, “to reach; until”), 賚 (OC *rɯːs, “to bestow”), Burmese လာ (la, “to come”). Also cognate with 蒞 (OC *rɯbs, “to arrive”) according to Schuessler (2007).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): lái (lai$^2$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄌㄞˊ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): nai$^2$
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): лэ (le, I)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): loi$^4$ / lai$^4$ / lei$^4$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): loi$^3$
    (Yangjiang, Jyutping++): loi$^4$
* Gan (Wiktionary): lai$^4$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): lòi
    (Hailu, HRS): loi
    (Meixian, Guangdong): loi$^2$
* Jin (Wiktionary): lai$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): lâ̤
* Eastern Min (BUC): lì / lài
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): lâi
    (Teochew, Peng'im): lai$^5$ / lai$^7$ / lai$^2$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^6$le
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): lai$^2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: lái
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄞˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: lái
*** Wade–Giles: lai$^2$
*** Yale: lái
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: lai
*** Palladius: лай (laj)
*** Sinological IPA : /laɪ̯³⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: nai$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: lai
*** Sinological IPA : /nai²¹/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: лэ (le, I)
*** Sinological IPA : /lɛ²⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: loi$^4$ / lai$^4$ / lei$^4$
*** Yale: lòih / làih / lèih
*** Cantonese Pinyin: loi$^4$ / lai$^4$ / lei$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: loi$^4$ / lei$^4$ / léi$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /lɔːi̯²¹/, /lɐi̯²¹/, /lei̯²¹/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: loi$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /lᵘɔi²²/
** (Yangjiang Yue, Jiangcheng)
*** Jyutping++: loi$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /lɔi⁴²/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: lai$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /lai³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: lòi
*** Hakka Romanization System: loi$^ˇ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: loi$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /loi̯¹¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: loi
*** Sinological IPA: /loi⁵⁵/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: loi$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /loɪ¹¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: lai$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /lai¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: lâ̤
*** Sinological IPA : /lɛ³³/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: lì / lài
*** Sinological IPA : /l̃i⁵³/, /l̃ai⁵³/
* lì - vernacular;
* lài - literary.
* Middle Chinese: loj
Rime :
| Character | 來 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 來 (37) |
| Final (韻) | 咍 (41) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | I |
| Fanqie | 洛哀切 |
| Baxter | loj |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /lʌi/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ləi/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /lɒi/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ləj/ |
| Li Rong | /lᴀi/ |
| Wang Li | /lɒi/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /lɑ̆i/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | lái |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | loi$^4$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*mə.rˤək/
    (Zhengzhang): /*m·rɯːɡ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 來 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | lái |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ loj › |
| Old Chinese | /*mə.rˁək/ (> *rˁə) |
| English | come |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 來 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 7598 |
| Phonetic component | 來 |
| Rime group | 之 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | |
| Old Chinese | /*m·rɯːɡ/ |

#### Definitions

來
* to come; to arrive
    Antonyms: 去 (qù), 往
    我一會兒就來。／我一会儿就来。 ― Wǒ yīhuìr jiù lái. ― I'll come in a moment.
       Wǒ bù zhīdào tā shì cóng nǎlǐ lái de. [Pinyin]
       I didn't know where it came from.
    From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE
    Yǒu péng zì yuǎnfāng lái, bù yì yuè hū? [Pinyin]
    Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?
** John 1.6
       Yǒu yī ge rén, shì cóng shén nàlǐ chā lái de, míng jiào Yuēhàn. [Pinyin]
       There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
    來了個電話／来了个电话 ― lái le ge diànhuà ― got a phone call; a phone call arrived
* to happen; to occur
* to do (specific meaning depending on the context)
* since
* next; coming; future
    來年／来年 ― láinián ― next year
* (after a number) about; approximately; around
    四十來歲／四十来岁 ― sìshí lái suì ― around forty years old
    十年來沒有活動／十年来没有活动 ― shínián lái méiyǒu huódòng ― has had no activity in a decade
* Used after a verb of motion to indicate movement toward the speaker.
    下來／下来 ― xiàlái ― to come down [compare 下去 (xiàqù, “to go down”)]
    進來／进来 ― jìnlái ― to come in
* Used before a verb to express volition.
    讓我來做吧。／让我来做吧。 ― Ràng wǒ lái zuò ba. ― Let me do it.
* An interjection to draw attention.
    來，腳讓一讓／来，脚让一让 ― lái, jiǎo ràng yī ràng ― Hey, watch your feet
** 1886, Lim Hiong Seng, “Household Furniture &c.”, in Handbook of the Swatow Vernacular, Singapore: Koh Yew Hean Press:
       zui$^2$ liou$^2$ lo$^7$, ua$^2$ lai$^5$ ke$^3$ kiêh$^8$ [Peng'im]
       The water is finished, I will go and get (some.)
* Used with 不 or 得 to express capability.
       Wǒ zuò bù lái fǔwòchēng. [Pinyin]
       I can't do push-ups.
* Used after numerals in colloquial lists.
* Meaningless particle for rhythmic purposes.
    From: c. 840, Bai Juyi,《不能忘情吟》, translated as Song of Past Feelings by Arthur Waley, 1919.
    Wǒ gū zhuó bǐ jīn léi, wǒ yǔ ěr guī zuìxiāng qù lái. [Pinyin]
    And I will pour you wine in that golden cup And take you with me to the Land of Drunkenness.
* (Shanghainese) currently
       $^6$non $^6$veq$_8$-iau $^5$ciau $^6$yi $^6$yi $^6$le $^5$tsu $^1$kon-khu [Wugniu]
       Don’t call him, he’s currently doing his homework.
* (～母) (Chinese linguistics) the Middle Chinese initial of 來 (MC loj)
* a surname
* in order to
       Tā zhāi le yī ge héyè lái dāng yǔsǎn. [Pinyin]
       He picks a lotus leaf in order to use it as an umbrella.

##### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 來 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 來 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 來 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 來 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 來 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 來 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 嚟 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 嚟 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 嚟 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 來 |
| Cantonese | Qingyuan | 來 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 嚟 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 嚟 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 來 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 來 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 來 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 來 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 來 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 來 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 來 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 來 |
| Eastern Min | Sitiawan (Gutian) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 來 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 來 |
| Southern Min | Dehua | 來 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 來 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 來 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 來 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 來 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 來 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 來 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 來 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 來 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 來 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chaoyang) | 來 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 來 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 來 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 來 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 來 |
| Wu | Hangzhou (Yuhang) | 來 |

#### Compounds

* 一來 / 一来 (yīlái)
* 一來一往 / 一来一往 (yīláiyīwǎng)
* 一來二去 / 一来二去 (yīlái'èrqù)
* 下不來 / 下不来
* 下不來臺 / 下不来台 (xiàbuláitái)
* 上來 / 上来 (shànglái)
* 下來 / 下来 (xiàlái)
* 不來 / 不来 (bùlái)
* 不來頭 / 不来头
* 不相來往 / 不相来往
* 不相往來 / 不相往来
* 不請自來 / 不请自来 (bùqǐngzìlái)
* 乍來 / 乍来
* 乘興而來 / 乘兴而来
* 亂來 / 乱来 (luànlái)
* 人來人往 / 人来人往
* 人來客去 / 人来客去
* 人來客往 / 人来客往
* 人來瘋 / 人来疯 (rénláifēng)
* 今來 / 今来
* 今來古往 / 今来古往
* 以來 / 以来 (yǐlái)
* 以往鑒來 / 以往鉴来
* 你來我往 / 你来我往
* 佛來明哥 / 佛来明哥
* 伯克來 / 伯克来
* 何苦來 / 何苦来 (hékǔlái)
* 來不來 / 来不来
* 來不及 / 来不及 (láibùjí)
* 來不得 / 来不得 (láibude)
* 來世 / 来世 (láishì)
* 來之不易 / 来之不易 (láizhībùyì)
* 來事兒 / 来事儿 (láishìr)
* 來亨雞 / 来亨鸡
* 來享 / 来享
* 來人 / 来人 (láirén)
* 來人兒 / 来人儿
* 來今 / 来今
* 來令片 / 来令片
* 來件 / 来件
* 來來 / 来来
* 來使 / 来使 (láishǐ)
* 來來回回 / 来来回回
* 來來往往 / 来来往往
* 來信 / 来信 (láixìn)
* 來儀 / 来仪
* 來函 / 来函 (láihán)
* 來到 / 来到 (láidào)
* 來勁 / 来劲 (láijìn)
* 來勁兒 / 来劲儿
* 來勢 / 来势 (láishì)
* 來勢洶洶 / 来势汹汹 (láishìxiōngxiōng)
* 來千去萬 / 来千去万
* 來去 / 来去 (láiqù)
* 來去分明 / 来去分明
* 來去匆匆 / 来去匆匆
* 來去自如 / 来去自如
* 來古 / 来古
* 來哲 / 来哲
* 來因 / 来因
* 來回 / 来回 (láihuí)
* 來回來去 / 来回来去 (láihuíláiqù)
* 來回的話 / 来回的话
* 來回票 / 来回票 (láihuípiào)
* 來孫 / 来孙 (láisūn)
* 來學 / 来学
* 來客 / 来客 (láikè)
* 來年 / 来年 (láinián)
* 來往 / 来往 (láiwǎng)
* 來得 / 来得 (láide)
* 來得及 / 来得及 (láidejí)
* 來得巧 / 来得巧
* 來復 / 来复 (láifù)
* 來復日 / 来复日
* 來復槍 / 来复枪 (láifùqiāng)
* 來復線 / 来复线 (láifùxiàn)
* 來情 / 来情
* 來情去意 / 来情去意
* 來意 / 来意 (láiyì)
* 來扇館 / 来扇馆
* 來手 / 来手
* 來文 / 来文
* 來料加工 / 来料加工
* 來日 / 来日 (láirì)
* 來日方長 / 来日方长 (láirìfāngcháng)
* 來日正長 / 来日正长
* 來書 / 来书
* 來月 / 来月 (láiyuè)
* 來朝 / 来朝
* 來期 / 来期
* 來果 / 来果
* 來樣加工 / 来样加工
* 來歲 / 来岁 (láisuì)
* 來歷 / 来历 (láilì)
* 來歷不明 / 来历不明 (láilìbùmíng)
* 來歸 / 来归 (láiguī)
* 來比錫 / 来比锡
* 來派 / 来派
* 來源 / 来源 (láiyuán)
* 來潮 / 来潮 (láicháo)
* 來火 / 来火
* 來火兒 / 来火儿
* 來煞 / 来煞
* 來牟 / 来牟
* 來犯 / 来犯 (láifàn)
* 來生 / 来生 (láishēng)
* 來由 / 来由 (láiyóu)
* 來的 / 来的 (láide)
* 來看 / 来看 (láikàn)
* 來示 / 来示
* 來神 / 来神
* 來神兒 / 来神儿
* 來福槍 / 来福枪 (láifúqiāng)
* 來福線 / 来福线
* 來稿 / 来稿
* 來緣 / 来缘
* 來義 / 来义 (Láiyì)
* 來者 / 来者 (láizhě)
* 來者不善 / 来者不善
* 來者不善，善者不來 / 来者不善，善者不来
* 來者不拒 / 来者不拒 (láizhěbùjù)
* 來者可追 / 来者可追
* 來者是客 / 来者是客
* 來臨 / 来临 (láilín)
* 來自 / 来自 (láizì)
* 來茲 / 来兹
* 來著 / 来著 (láizhe)
* 來著 / 来着 (láizhe)
* 來葉 / 来叶
* 來蘇 / 来苏
* 來蘇水 / 来苏水
* 來處 / 来处
* 來襲 / 来袭 (láixí)
* 來訪 / 来访 (láifǎng)
* 來說 / 来说 (láishuō)
* 來諭 / 来谕
* 來講 / 来讲 (láijiǎng)
* 來貺 / 来贶
* 來賓 / 来宾 (láibīn)
* 來路 / 来路 (láilù)
* 來路貨 / 来路货 (láilùhuò)
* 來蹤去影 / 来踪去影
* 來蹤去跡 / 来踪去迹
* 來附 / 来附
* 來電 / 来电 (láidiàn)
* 來革 / 来革
* 來頓 / 来顿
* 來頓瓶 / 来顿瓶
* 來頭 / 来头 (láitou)
* 來頭不小 / 来头不小
* 來頭兒 / 来头儿
* 來頭貨 / 来头货
* 來鳳 / 来凤 (Láifèng)
* 來龍 / 来龙
* 來龍去脈 / 来龙去脉 (láilóngqùmài)
* 信手拈來 / 信手拈来
* 倘來之物 / 倘来之物 (tǎngláizhīwù)
* 倏來忽往 / 倏来忽往
* 倒大來 / 倒大来
* 做下來 / 做下来
* 做出事來 / 做出事来
* 傳染來源 / 传染来源
* 儻來 / 傥来 (tǎnglái)
* 儻來之物 / 傥来之物 (tǎngláizhīwù)
* 先來 / 先来
* 先來後到 / 先来后到
* 克來汀症 / 克来汀症
* 兜來兜去 / 兜来兜去
* 入來 / 入来 (rùlái)
* 其來有自 / 其来有自
* 再來 / 再来 (zàilái)
* 再來過 / 再来过
* 出來 / 出来 (chūlái)
* 划不來
* 別來 / 别来
* 別來無恙 / 别来无恙 (bié lái wúyàng)
* 到大來 / 到大来
* 到頭來 / 到头来 (dàotóulái)
* 前來 / 前来 (qiánlái)
* 劃下道來 / 划下道来
* 劈地價來 / 劈地价来
* 勞來 / 劳来
* 南來北往 / 南来北往
* 卷土重來 / 卷土重来 (juǎntǔchónglái)
* 原來 / 原来 (yuánlái)
* 原來如此 / 原来如此 (yuánláirúcǐ)
* 去來 / 去来
* 古來 / 古来 (gǔlái)
* 可又來 / 可又来
* 古往今來 / 古往今来 (gǔwǎngjīnlái)
* 可是來 / 可是来
* 吃不來 / 吃不来 (chībulái)
* 合不來 / 合不来 (hébùlái)
* 向來 / 向来 (xiànglái)
* 合得來 / 合得来 (hédelái)
* 吃得來 / 吃得来 (chīdelái)
* 吃自來食 / 吃自来食
* 否去泰來 / 否去泰来
* 否往泰來 / 否往泰来
* 否極泰來 / 否极泰来 (pǐjítàilái)
* 嗟來之食 / 嗟来之食 (jiēláizhīshí)
* 嗟來食 / 嗟来食
* 回來 / 回来 (huílái)
* 在來米 / 在来米 (zàiláimǐ)
* 垂於將來 / 垂于将来
* 外來 / 外来 (wàilái)
* 外來語 / 外来语 (wàiláiyǔ)
* 外來錢 / 外来钱
* 多來特巴格 / 多来特巴格 (Duōláitè Bāgé)
* 夜來 / 夜来 (yèlái)
* 夜來香 / 夜来香 (yèláixiāng)
* 大來大往 / 大来大往
* 大來歷 / 大来历
* 大來頭 / 大来头
* 大剛來 / 大刚来
* 大有來頭 / 大有来头
* 大致說來 / 大致说来
* 大都來 / 大都来
* 天來大 / 天来大
* 如來 / 如来 (rúlái)
* 好來寶 / 好来宝
* 如來藏 / 如来藏
* 姍姍來遲 / 姗姗来迟
* 娓娓道來 / 娓娓道来
* 子來 / 子来
* 家來 / 家来
* 寒來暑往 / 寒来暑往
* 寶麗來 / 宝丽来 (bǎolìlái)
* 將來 / 将来 (jiānglái)
* 小往大來 / 小往大来
* 少來 / 少来 (shǎolái)
* 山雨欲來 / 山雨欲来
* 左來右去 / 左来右去
* 希伯來 / 希伯来 (Xībólái)
* 希伯來人 / 希伯来人 (xībóláirén)
* 希伯來書 / 希伯来书 (Xībóláishū)
* 帶來 / 带来 (dàilái)
* 年來 / 年来 (niánlái)
* 幹得來 / 干得来
* 弄來弄去 / 弄来弄去
* 彰往察來 / 彰往察来
* 往來 / 往来 (wǎnglái)
* 往來如織 / 往来如织
* 往古來今 / 往古来今
* 後來 / 后来 (hòulái)
* 後來之秀 / 后来之秀
* 後來居上 / 后来居上 (hòuláijūshàng)
* 待剛來 / 待刚来
* 後悔不來 / 后悔不来
* 從來 / 从来 (cónglái)
* 得來不易 / 得来不易 (déláibùyì)
* 從實招來 / 从实招来 (cóngshízhāolái)
* 從頭再來 / 从头再来
* 心血來潮 / 心血来潮 (xīnxuèláicháo)
* 忙不過來 / 忙不过来
* 悅近來遠 / 悦近来远
* 悲從中來 / 悲从中来 (bēicóngzhōnglái)
* 惠然肯來 / 惠然肯来
* 想來想去 / 想来想去
* 慕名而來 / 慕名而来
* 慢慢來 / 慢慢来
* 手到拿來 / 手到拿来 (shǒudàonálái)
* 手到擒來 / 手到擒来 (shǒudàoqínlái)
* 打上來 / 打上来
* 打來回 / 打来回
* 把來 / 把来 (bǎlái)
* 扭來扭去 / 扭来扭去
* 抖起來 / 抖起来
* 抹不下來 / 抹不下来
* 拈來 / 拈来
* 拔來報往 / 拔来报往
* 拿下馬來 / 拿下马来
* 拿不起來 / 拿不起来
* 捎來 / 捎来
* 推來推去 / 推来推去 (tuīláituīqù)
* 捲土重來 / 卷土重来 (juǎntǔchónglái)
* 捲甲重來 / 卷甲重来
* 接踵而來 / 接踵而来 (jiēzhǒng'érlái)
* 掉過來 / 掉过来
* 搖筆即來 / 摇笔即来
* 撂下臉來 / 撂下脸来
* 撧過來 / 𪮖过来
* 攪來攪去 / 搅来搅去
* 攪纏不來 / 搅缠不来
* 放來生債 / 放来生债
* 放馬過來 / 放马过来 (fàngmǎ guòlái)
* 數來寶 / 数来宝
* 數往知來 / 数往知来
* 新來 / 新来 (xīnlái)
* 新來乍到 / 新来乍到 (xīnláizhàdào)
* 新聞來源 / 新闻来源
* 斷絕往來 / 断绝往来
* 日來 / 日来 (rìlái)
* 日往月來 / 日往月来
* 日浹往來 / 日浃往来
* 早來 / 早来 (zǎolái)
* 明來暗往 / 明来暗往
* 昨來 / 昨来
* 春來秋去 / 春来秋去
* 春去秋來 / 春去秋来
* 時不再來 / 时不再来
* 晃來晃去 / 晃来晃去
* 時來暫去 / 时来暂去
* 時來福湊 / 时来福凑
* 時來運來 / 时来运来
* 時來運轉 / 时来运转 (shíláiyùnzhuǎn)
* 暑來寒往 / 暑来寒往
* 暑往寒來 / 暑往寒来
* 暮去朝來 / 暮去朝来
* 有來 / 有来
* 有來有去 / 有来有去
* 有來有往 / 有来有往 (yǒuláiyǒuwǎng)
* 有來頭 / 有来头
* 有備而來 / 有备而来 (yǒubèi'érlái)
* 有史以來 / 有史以来 (yǒushǐyǐlái)
* 有生以來 / 有生以来 (yǒushēngyǐlái)
* 朝來暮去 / 朝来暮去
* 本來 / 本来 (běnlái)
* 未來 / 未来 (wèilái)
* 未來主義 / 未来主义 (wèiláizhǔyì)
* 未來學 / 未来学 (wèiláixué)
* 未來派 / 未来派 (wèiláipài)
* 本來面目 / 本来面目
* 東來紫氣 / 东来紫气
* 東來西去 / 东来西去
* 桃來李答 / 桃来李答
* 樂極悲來 / 乐极悲来
* 歷來 / 历来 (lìlái)
* 歷劫歸來 / 历劫归来
* 歸來 / 归来 (guīlái)
* 歸去來兮 / 归去来兮
* 歸去來辭 / 归去来辞
* 死去活來 / 死去活来 (sǐqùhuólái)
* 比來 / 比来 (bǐlái)
* 水來土掩 / 水来土掩
* 沒來回 / 没来回
* 沒來歷 / 没来历
* 沒來由 / 没来由
* 沒來頭 / 没来头
* 沒有來歷 / 没有来历
* 泰來否往 / 泰来否往
* 浮來暫去 / 浮来暂去
* 清風徐來 / 清风徐来
* 源源而來 / 源源而来
* 漂來戶 / 漂来户
* 滾來滾去 / 滚来滚去
* 滾起來 / 滚起来
* 烏來 / 乌来 (Wūlái)
* 熙來攘往 / 熙来攘往
* 爾來 / 尔来 (ěrlái)
* 特來 / 特来 (tèlái)
* 特別來賓 / 特别来宾
* 狼來了 / 狼来了
* 獨來獨往 / 独来独往 (dúláidúwǎng)
* 獨往獨來 / 独往独来
* 甘盡苦來 / 甘尽苦来
* 生來 / 生来 (shēnglái)
* 生來死去 / 生来死去
* 用來 / 用来 (yònglái)
* 由來 / 由来 (yóulái)
* 番來覆去 / 番来覆去
* 當來 / 当来 (dānglái)
* 白來 / 白来
* 直來直往 / 直来直往
* 直去直來 / 直去直来
* 看不來 / 看不来
* 看來 / 看来 (kànlái)
* 眉來眼去 / 眉来眼去 (méiláiyǎnqù)
* 眉來語去 / 眉来语去
* 看起來 / 看起来 (kànqilai)
* 眼去眉來 / 眼去眉来
* 知來藏往 / 知来藏往
* 硬來 / 硬来
* 神來之筆 / 神来之笔 (shénláizhībǐ)
* 福不徒來 / 福不徒来
* 禍來神昧 / 祸来神昧
* 禮尚往來 / 礼尚往来 (lǐshàngwǎnglái)
* 禮節往來 / 礼节往来
* 空穴來風 / 空穴来风 (kōngxuéláifēng)
* 突如其來 / 突如其来 (tūrúqílái)
* 算來 / 算来
* 算來算去 / 算来算去
* 算起來 / 算起来
* 素來 / 素来 (sùlái)
* 納命來 / 纳命来
* 紛沓而來 / 纷沓而来
* 紛至沓來 / 纷至沓来 (fēnzhìtàlái)
* 紫氣東來 / 紫气东来
* 絲來線去 / 丝来线去
* 繼往開來 / 继往开来 (jìwǎngkāilái)
* 羊帶來 / 羊带来 (yángdàilái)
* 翻來吊去 / 翻来吊去
* 翻來翻去 / 翻来翻去
* 翻來覆去 / 翻来覆去 (fānláifùqù)
* 老來 / 老来
* 老來俏 / 老来俏 (lǎoláiqiào)
* 老來寶 / 老来宝
* 者來寨 / 者来寨 (Zhělái Zhài)
* 胡來 / 胡来 (húlái)
* 自來 / 自来 (zìlái)
* 自來水 / 自来水 (zìláishuǐ)
* 自來水筆 / 自来水笔 (zìláishuǐbǐ)
* 自來火 / 自来火 (zìláihuǒ)
* 自拔來歸 / 自拔来归
* 臭肉來蠅 / 臭肉来蝇
* 與生俱來 / 与生俱来 (yǔshēngjùlái)
* 興盡悲來 / 兴尽悲来
* 舶來 / 舶来 (bólái)
* 舶來品 / 舶来品 (bóláipǐn)
* 芒來 / 芒来 (Mánglái)
* 苦盡甘來 / 苦尽甘来 (kǔjìngānlái)
* 著甚來由 / 著甚来由
* 行來 / 行来
* 覆去翻來 / 覆去翻来
* 見來 / 见来
* 觀往知來 / 观往知来
* 言來語去 / 言来语去
* 計上心來 / 计上心来 (jìshàngxīnlái)
* 說不上來 / 说不上来
* 說不來 / 说不来
* 說來 / 说来 (shuōlái)
* 說來話長 / 说来话长 (shuōláihuàcháng)
* 說來說去 / 说来说去
* 說得來 / 说得来 (shuōdelái)
* 說起來 / 说起来
* 走來走去 / 走来走去 (zǒuláizǒuqù)
* 起來 / 起来 (qǐlái)
* 趕來 / 赶来 (gǎnlái)
* 跑起來 / 跑起来
* 跳起來 / 跳起来
* 踅來踅去 / 踅来踅去
* 踱來踱去 / 踱来踱去
* 轉來 / 转来 (zhuǎnlái)
* 近來 / 近来 (jìnlái)
* 返來 / 返来
* 迎來送往 / 迎来送往
* 近悅遠來 / 近悦远来
* 近新來 / 近新来
* 逆來順受 / 逆来顺受 (nìláishùnshòu)
* 送往迎來 / 送往迎来
* 這般說來 / 这般说来
* 進來 / 进来 (jìnlái)
* 過下來 / 过下来
* 過來 / 过来 (guòlái)
* 過來人 / 过来人 (guòláirén)
* 適來 / 适来 (shìlái)
* 還來 / 还来 (huánlái)
* 邇來 / 迩来 (ěrlái)
* 都來 / 都来
* 鑒往知來 / 鉴往知来
* 鑑往知來 / 鉴往知来
* 閒來無事 / 闲来无事 (xiánláiwúshì)
* 雁來紅 / 雁来红 (yànláihóng)
* 雁去魚來 / 雁去鱼来
* 雨來散 / 雨来散
* 頻來無忌 / 频来无忌
* 顛來倒去 / 颠来倒去
* 顧不過來 / 顾不过来
* 顧得過來 / 顾得过来
* 飛來峰 / 飞来峰
* 飛來橫禍 / 飞来横祸 (fēiláihènghuò)
* 飛來橫財 / 飞来横财
* 飯來開口 / 饭来开口
* 馬來 / 马来 (Mǎlái)
* 馬來亞 / 马来亚 (Mǎláiyà)
* 馬來人 / 马来人 (Mǎláirén)
* 馬來半島 / 马来半岛 (Mǎlái Bàndǎo)
* 馬來熊 / 马来熊 (mǎlái xióng)
* 馬來糕 / 马来糕 (mǎláigāo)
* 馬來群島 / 马来群岛 (Mǎlái Qúndǎo)
* 馬來西亞 / 马来西亚 (Mǎláixīyà)
* 高來高去 / 高来高去
* 鳳凰來儀 / 凤凰来仪
* 麇至沓來 / 麇至沓来
* 黑白來 / 黑白来

#### Descendants

* → Japanese: 来(らい) (rai)
* → Korean: 래(來) (rae)
* → Vietnamese: lai (來)

### Etymology 2

Cognate to or same word as 麥 (OC *mrɯːɡ) (Schuessler, 2007).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): lái (lai$^2$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄌㄞˊ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): loi$^4$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: lái
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄞˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: lái
*** Wade–Giles: lai$^2$
*** Yale: lái
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: lai
*** Palladius: лай (laj)
*** Sinological IPA : /laɪ̯³⁵/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: loi$^4$
*** Yale: lòih
*** Cantonese Pinyin: loi$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: loi$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /lɔːi̯²¹/
* Middle Chinese: loj
Rime :
| Character | 來 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 來 (37) |
| Final (韻) | 咍 (41) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | I |
| Fanqie | 洛哀切 |
| Baxter | loj |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /lʌi/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /ləi/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /lɒi/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /ləj/ |
| Li Rong | /lᴀi/ |
| Wang Li | /lɒi/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /lɑ̆i/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | lái |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | loi$^4$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*mə.rˤək/
    (Zhengzhang): /*m·rɯːɡ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 來 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | lái |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ loj › |
| Old Chinese | /*mə.rˁək/ (> *mə.rˁə) |
| English | a kind of wheat |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 來 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 7598 |
| Phonetic component | 來 |
| Rime group | 之 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | |
| Old Chinese | /*m·rɯːɡ/ |

#### Definitions

來
* (obsolete) wheat
    From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Yí wǒ mài móu, dì mìng shuài yù. [Pinyin]
    Thou didst confer on us the wheat and the barley, which God appointed for the nourishment of all.

### References

* “來”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* “來”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

## Japanese

| Shinjitai | 来 |
| Kyūjitai | 來 |

### Kanji

(Jinmeiyō kanji, kyūjitai kanji, shinjitai form 来)
* Kyūjitai form of 来

#### Readings

* Go-on: らい (rai)
* Kan-on: らい (rai)
* Kun: くる (kuru, 來る)、きたる (kitaru, 來る)、きたす (kitasu, 來す)、きたる (kitaru, 來たる)、きたす (kitasu, 來たす)
* Nanori: き (ki)、こ (ko)、な (na)、ゆき (yuki)

### Etymology

For pronunciation and definitions of 來 – see the following entry. :
| 【来】2 | [kanji] second grade kanji Kanji reading: らい, くる, きたる, きたす, きし, こし, き, こ, な, ゆき |
(This term, 來, is the kyūjitai of the above term.) :

## Korean
### Hanja

來 (eumhun 올 래 (ol rae), word-initial (South Korea) 올 내 (ol nae))
* hanja form of 래 (“to come; to arrive”)

#### Compounds

* 미래 (未來, mirae, “future”)
* 내일 (來日, naeil, “tomorrow”)
* 내년 (來年, naenyeon, “next year”)

## Old Japanese
### Etymology 1

From Proto-Japonic *ku. First attested in the Kojiki of 712.

#### Verb

來 (ku) (kana く)
* to come (towards the speaker), approach
** 711–712, Kojiki, poem 51:...伊良那祁久曾許爾淤母比傅加那志祁久許許爾淤母比傅伊岐良受曾久流阿豆佐由美麻由美...iranake$_1$ku so$_2$ko$_2$ ni omo$_2$pi$_1$de kanasike$_1$ku ko$_2$ko$_2$ ni omo$_2$pi$_1$de iki$_1$razu so kuru adusayumi$_1$ mayumi$_1$(please add an English translation of this quotation)
** c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 4, poem 527:將來云毛不來時有乎不來云乎將來常者不待不來云物乎ko$_2$mu to$_2$ ipu mo ko$_2$nu to$_2$ki$_1$ aru wo ko$_2$zi to$_2$ ipu wo ko$_2$mu to$_2$ pa matazi ko$_2$zi to$_2$ ipu mono$_2$ wo(please add an English translation of this quotation)
* to go (to a direction or place far from the speaker but near the listener)
** c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 15, poem 3589:由布佐禮婆比具良之伎奈久伊故麻山古延弖曾安我久流伊毛我目乎保里yupu sareba pi$_1$gurasi ki$_1$naku Iko$_2$ma-yama ko$_1$yete so$_2$ a ga kuru imo ga me$_2$ wo pori(please add an English translation of this quotation)
* (suffixed to the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem form”) of a verb) to gradually begin to [verb]
** c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 14, poem 3453:可是能等能登抱吉和伎母賀吉西斯伎奴多母登乃久太利麻欲比伎爾家利kaze no$_2$ to$_2$ no$_2$ kaze no$_2$ to$_2$poki$_1$ wagi$_1$mo ga ki$_1$sesi ki$_1$nu tamoto$_2$ no$_2$ kudari mayo$_1$piki$_1$nike$_1$ri(please add an English translation of this quotation)

##### Conjugation

Stem forms :
| Irrealis (未然形) | 來 | こ | ko |
| Continuative (連用形) | 來 | き | ki |
| Terminal (終止形) | 來 | く | ku |
| Attributive (連体形) | 來る | くる | kuru |
| Realis (已然形) | 來れ | くれ | kure |
| Imperative (命令形) | 來 來よ | こ こよ | ko koyo |
| Key constructions ||||
| Negative | 來ず | こず | kozu |
| Contrasting conjunction | 來れど | くれど | kuredo |
| Causal conjunction | 來れば | くれば | kureba |
| Conditional conjunction | 來ば | こば | koba |
| Past tense (firsthand knowledge) | 來し$^{[1]}$ 來し$^{[1]}$ | こし きし | kosi kisi |
| Past tense (secondhand knowledge) | 來けり | きけり | kikeri |
| Perfect tense (conscious action) | 來つ | きつ | kitu |
| Perfect tense (natural event) | 來ぬ | きぬ | kinu |
| Perfect-continuative tense | 來たり | きたり | kitari |
| Volitional | 來む | こむ | komu |
| $^{[1]}$Attributive form, as the terminal form (lemma) does not exist for this construction in this conjugation. ||||

##### Derived terms

* 來る (ki$_1$taru)
* 來鳴く (ki$_1$naku)

##### Descendants

* Japanese: 来る (kuru)

### Etymology 2

Eastern Old Japanese form of the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 來 (ku) above.

#### Verb

來 (ke$_1$) (kana け)
* stem or continuative conjugation of 來 (ku, “to come”) (regional, Southern Eastern Old Japanese)
** c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4337:美豆等利乃多知能已蘇岐爾父母爾毛能波須價爾弖已麻叙久夜志伎miduto$_2$ri no$_2$ tati no$_2$ iso$_1$gi$_1$ ni titipapa ni mono$_2$pazu ke$_1$nite ima zo kuyasiki$_1$(please add an English translation of this quotation)

### References

* ↑ Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

## Vietnamese
### Han character

來: Hán Nôm readings: lai, lay, lơi, ray, rơi, rời
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

#### References

* Nom Foundation