来回

• Pinyin: lái huí
• Hanzi breakdown: 来 = 来 (come); 回 = 囗 + 口 (return in circle)

Meaning

Back and forth; round trip. As a noun, a round-trip journey.

Describes movement or travel in both directions, either as repeated motion or as a complete journey to a destination and back. Used for physical movement, transportation, and metaphorical back-and-forth activities.

Examples

1. 他在房间里来回踱步思考问题。 He paced back and forth in the room, thinking things over.
2. 从这里到机场来回需要两个小时。 A round trip from here to the airport takes two hours.
3. 我们来回跑了好几趟才办完手续。 We went back and forth several times before we finally finished the paperwork.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, movement, transportation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 买一张来回票比较划算。(Buying a round-trip ticket is more cost-effective.)
• 他在走廊里来回走动显得很焦虑。(He paced back and forth in the corridor, appearing very anxious.)

Don't Say

• 我来回喜欢这个 — 来回 is for physical movement, not fluctuating opinions

Origin & History

来 (come) + 回 (return)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal