来 (dummy verb)

• Pinyin: lái
• Formation: (让 +) Subj. + 来 / Subj. + 来 + Number + Measure Word + Noun
• Hanzi breakdown: 来 = simplified from 來, originally a pictograph of a wheat stalk, later borrowed for its phonetic value meaning 'to come'

Meaning

来 (lái) can function as a 'dummy verb' meaning 'to do it' or 'let me handle it,' standing in for a specific action that is understood from context. It is commonly used in casual speech to offer to take action or invite someone to do something.

When used as a dummy verb, 来 replaces a specific action verb when the context makes the intended action clear. This is extremely common in everyday Chinese — for example, at a restaurant you might say 我来 to mean 'I'll do it' (pay, order, etc.), or 来两瓶啤酒 to mean 'bring us two beers.' It is often preceded by 让 to delegate an action to someone else. Unlike its basic meaning of 'to come,' this usage focuses on initiative and willingness to act. Learners sometimes struggle with this because 来 seems too vague, but native speakers find it perfectly natural since the intended action is always clear from the situation. It can also combine with a number + measure word + noun to mean 'give me some of that.'

Examples

1. 这件事太难了，让我来。 This task is too hard — let me do it.
2. 别动，我来开门。 Don't move, I'll get the door.
3. 服务员，来两瓶啤酒。 Waiter, bring us two bottles of beer.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday

Tone: assertive

Do Say

• 别担心，这件事我来处理。
• 大家都准备好了吧，我来说几句。
• 让他来吧，他比较有经验。

Don't Say

• 我来了三本书。(来 as a dummy verb cannot take 了 with a noun object to mean 'bought' — to order, say 来三本书; to express 'bought,' use 买了) → 我买了三本书。
• 他来很高兴。(来 as a dummy verb means 'to take action' — it cannot replace 变得 or serve as a linking verb before adjectives) → 他变得很高兴。

Origin & History

The use of 来 as a dummy verb extends from its core meaning of 'to come.' By saying 'I come,' the speaker metaphorically steps forward to take responsibility for an action. This pragmatic extension is attested in Chinese texts for centuries.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal