传来

• Pinyin: chuán lái
• Hanzi breakdown: 传 = 亻(person) + 专 (specialized); 来 = simplified from 來, meaning to come

Meaning

To come through; to be heard from afar. Describes sounds, news, or smells arriving from a distance.

A directional complement combination of 传 (transmit) and 来 (come), indicating something reaching the speaker. Most commonly used with sounds, smells, and news. Often appears in literary and descriptive writing.

Examples

1. 远处传来了一阵美妙的音乐声。 A beautiful melody could be heard coming from the distance.
2. 厨房里传来了饭菜的香味。 The aroma of food wafted in from the kitchen.
3. 突然从楼下传来一声巨大的响声。 Suddenly a loud bang came from downstairs.

Usage Guide

Context: descriptive, narrative, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 窗外传来了鸟叫的声音。(The sound of birds chirping came through the window.)
• 前方传来了好消息。(Good news came from the front.)

Don't Say

• 他传来了一本书 (Don't use 传来 for physically delivering objects — use 送来 or 带来; 传来 is for sounds, smells, and news that travel through space)

Origin & History

Verb-complement construction: 传 (transmit) + 来 (come toward speaker), indicating transmission in the direction of the speaker.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal