到来

• Pinyin: dào lái
• Hanzi breakdown: 到 = 至 (arrive) + 刂 (knife); 来 = originally pictograph of wheat, borrowed for 'come'

Meaning

To arrive; arrival; coming. The act of reaching a destination or the beginning of something.

Often used for abstract arrivals like seasons, holidays, or new eras, not just physical arrival of people. Has a slightly formal or literary tone compared to simply using 来 or 到.

Examples

1. 春天的到来让整个城市充满了生机。 The arrival of spring filled the entire city with vitality.
2. 随着人工智能时代的到来，很多行业都发生了巨大变化。 With the arrival of the AI era, many industries have undergone tremendous changes.
3. 期待已久的假期终于到来了。 The long-awaited vacation has finally arrived.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, news, formal speech

Tone: literary

Do Say

• 新时代的到来。(The arrival of a new era.)
• 期待春天的到来。(Looking forward to the arrival of spring.)

Don't Say

• '到来'较为正式——日常口语中说人来了用'来了'或'到了'更自然 (到来 is formal — in casual speech, use 来了 or 到了 for people arriving)

Origin & History

Compound of 到 (to arrive, to reach) + 来 (to come), emphasizing the completion of arrival.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal