来自

• Pinyin: lái zì
• Hanzi breakdown: 来 (lái) — to come; 自 (zì) — from, self

Meaning

To come from; to originate from. Indicates the origin or source of something or someone.

Used to state where a person is from, where a product originates, or the source of something abstract like an idea. More formal than 从...来.

Examples

1. 我来自中国。 I come from China.
2. 这些水果来自南方。 These fruits come from the south.
3. 她来自一个很小的城市。 She comes from a very small city.

Usage Guide

Context: introductions, origins, formal speech

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你来自哪里？(Where are you from?)
• 这个想法来自一本书。(This idea came from a book.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'我来自去北京' (Don't use 来自 to indicate destination — it means 'from,' not 'going to')

Origin & History

Compound of 来 (to come) and 自 (from, self). Together they form a verb meaning 'to originate from.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal