过来

• Pinyin: guò lái
• Hanzi breakdown: 过 = 辶 (walk) + 寸 (inch) — to pass; 来 = originally a pictograph of wheat, borrowed for 'to come'

Meaning

To come over; to come here. Indicates movement towards the speaker.

A directional complement that indicates movement towards the speaker. Can also be used figuratively (e.g., 忙不过来 = too busy to handle it all). One of the most common directional verbs in Chinese.

Examples

1. 你过来一下，我有话跟你说。 Come here for a moment — I have something to tell you.
2. 他从外面走过来了。 He walked over from outside.
3. 小狗跑过来了。 The puppy ran over.

Usage Guide

Context: giving directions, calling someone, narration

Tone: direct, conversational

Do Say

• 请过来看看。(Please come over and have a look.)
• 他慢慢走过来了。(He walked over slowly.)

Don't Say

• 不要把过来和过去搞混 — 过来 means movement towards the speaker; 过去 means movement away from the speaker.

Origin & History

Compound of 过 (to cross, to pass) and 来 (to come), meaning 'to cross over towards here.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal