上来

• Pinyin: shàng lái
• Hanzi breakdown: 上 = a line above a baseline, indicating above or upward; 来 = simplified from 來, originally depicting a wheat plant, later meaning to come

Meaning

To come up; to ascend toward the speaker. Indicates upward movement in the direction of the speaker.

A directional complement combining 上 (up) and 来 (come/toward speaker). Used literally for physical upward movement toward the speaker (come upstairs, climb up), and figuratively as a complement after other verbs to indicate completion or emergence (想不上来 = can't think of it). Very common in daily speech.

Examples

1. 你从楼下上来吧，我在二楼等你。 Come up from downstairs — I'm waiting for you on the second floor.
2. 他跑得太快了，我跟不上来。 He was running too fast — I couldn't keep up.
3. 这道题的答案我一时想不上来。 I can't think of the answer to this question right now.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, movement, daily life

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 快上来，电梯要关门了！(Come up quick — the elevator is closing!)
• 他从水里游上来了。(He swam up out of the water.)

Don't Say

• 你上来到一楼吧。(If the speaker is on a lower floor, don't use 上来 — use 下来 instead. 上来 always means upward toward the speaker.)

Origin & History

上 means up or upward; 来 means to come or toward the speaker. Together: to come up — movement upward toward the speaker's location.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal