A common mistake learners make with 来 (lái) is treating it only as a standalone verb meaning "to come." In Mandarin, 来 also attaches to other verbs to show direction — specifically, motion toward the speaker. If you've ever wondered why someone says 进来 instead of just 进, this lesson clears that up.
The structure is straightforward: Verb + 来. You add 来 after a direction verb like 进 (jìn, enter), 回 (huí, return), or 过 (guò, cross) to indicate the action moves toward you — you are the destination.
Example: 他走过来了 (tā zǒu guòlái le) — He walked over (toward us).
Another: 快进来 (kuài jìnlái) — Come in quickly.
After this lesson, you can tell someone to come in, come over, or come back, and describe people moving toward you.
This is a live conversation lesson — you talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real time, not by typing. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level. Each lesson targets one specific grammar pattern and takes roughly 10 minutes. You'll practice using 来 in natural responses, building the reflex to attach it to direction verbs without hesitating.
You can try the first lesson free — no credit card required to start talking.
To reinforce what you learn, you can print handwriting worksheets with the free Chinese Worksheet Generator (ready-made packs cover HSK 1–3 words).
For more speaking practice at this level, explore the HSK 2 lessons hub page, or try another HSK 2 live lesson on Verb + 完 (wán) and another HSK 2 live lesson on 是...的 (shì...de).
Once 来 clicks as a directional complement, you'll start hearing it everywhere in spoken Chinese — and using it naturally yourself.
来 (lái) after a direction verb like 进, 回, or 过 shows that the action moves toward the speaker — you are the destination. For example, in 他走过来了 (tā zǒu guòlái le), the walker is coming toward you. This is the Simple Directional: Toward Speaker pattern.
Each live conversation lesson targets one grammar pattern and takes roughly 10 minutes. In Come Over Here, you talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin, who corrects your grammar and pronunciation as you practice using 来 with direction verbs in real-time conversation.
Yes — you can print handwriting worksheets using the free Chinese Worksheet Generator. Ready-made packs cover HSK 1–3 words, so you can reinforce characters like 来 and the direction verbs used in this Simple Directional: Toward Speaker pattern.