来

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 来 (lái) is composed of two parts: the radical 辵 (chuò), which represents walking or movement, and the phonetic component 来 (lái). The radical 辵 indicates that 来 is related to movement or coming, while the phonetic component 来 provides the pronunciation.The original form of 来 was a pictograph depicting a person walking with a staff. Over time, the character evolved and simplified into its current form. The character 来 has several meanings, including "to come," "to arrive," and "to bring." It can also be used as a preposition to indicate direction or purpose.In addition to its literal meaning, 来 also has several extended meanings. For example, it can be used to express the idea of "beginning" or "starting." It can also be used to indicate the future tense.The character 来 is commonly used in Chinese writing and is an important part of the Chinese language. Its rich history and multiple meanings make it an interesting and versatile character to learn.