jìnlái: 进来 - Come in, Enter [The Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

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====== jìnlái: 进来 - Come in, Enter ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** jinlai, 进来, come in Chinese, enter in Chinese, how to say come in Chinese, 进来 vs 进去, Chinese directional complements, verb-complement structure, HSK 2 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** Learn how to use **进来 (jìnlái)**, the essential Chinese verb for 'come in' or 'enter'. This guide explains the critical difference between **进来 (jìnlái)** and **进去 (jìnqù)**, breaks down its characters, and provides practical example sentences for daily conversation. Master this fundamental directional complement to sound more natural when inviting someone into a space from the speaker's perspective.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jìnlái
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb (Directional Complement)
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 2
  * **Concise Definition:** To come in or enter a space, moving towards the speaker.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **进来 (jìnlái)** is a fundamental directional verb that means "to come in." The key to understanding it is the direction: the movement is always //towards// the person speaking. If you are inside a room and someone is at the door, you say "**进来**!" (Come in!). It combines the action of "entering" (进) with the direction "towards me" (来).
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **进 (jìn):** This character means "to enter," "to advance," or "to move forward." It's composed of the 'movement' radical (辶) and a phonetic component. Think of it as the core action of crossing a threshold.
  * **来 (lái):** This character means "to come." It indicates movement that is directed //towards// the speaker or the current point of reference.
  * **How they combine:** Putting them together, **进来 (jìnlái)** literally means "enter-come." This combination creates a precise verb that specifies not just the action of entering, but also the direction of that entry: towards you, the speaker.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While **进来 (jìnlái)** is a very practical term, its use is deeply tied to Chinese customs of hospitality. A warm, welcoming "请进来!" (qǐng jìnlái - "please come in!") is a fundamental part of inviting guests into one's home or office. It's a simple but important gesture of openness and respect.
The biggest cultural-linguistic difference for Western learners is the concept of speaker-centric direction. In English, we use prepositions that are neutral to the speaker's location: "Come **in**," "Go **in**." The word "in" doesn't change. In Chinese, the verb itself changes based on your location.
  * **进来 (jìnlái):** Movement into a space, **towards** the speaker.
  * **[[进去]] (jìnqù):** Movement into a space, **away** from the speaker.
This reflects a linguistic viewpoint where the speaker's position is the primary reference point for describing actions in space. Mastering this concept is a huge step towards thinking in Chinese.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**进来 (jìnlái)** is used constantly in everyday life.
  * **Welcoming Guests:** This is its most common use. When someone knocks on your door, you open it and say "请进来!" or more casually, "进来吧!".
  * **On the Phone or in a Meeting:** You might say to a colleague, "你现在能**进来**一下我的办公室吗？" (Nǐ xiànzài néng jìnlái yīxià wǒ de bàngōngshì ma? - Can you come into my office for a moment?).
  * **Figurative Usage:** It can also be used for abstract concepts. For example, "这个新想法很难**进来**我的脑子。" (Zhège xīn xiǎngfǎ hěn nán jìnlái wǒ de nǎozi. - This new idea is hard to get into my head.) Here, 'in' means into your understanding.
Its formality depends on the context. A sharp "**进来**!" can be a command, while "**请进来**" (qǐng jìnlái) is universally polite.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 门开着，你**进来**吧！
    * Pinyin: Mén kāizhe, nǐ jìnlái ba!
    * English: The door is open, come on in!
    * Analysis: A very common, friendly, and informal invitation. The speaker is inside.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 王经理，请**进来**坐。
    * Pinyin: Wáng jīnglǐ, qǐng jìnlái zuò.
    * English: Manager Wang, please come in and have a seat.
    * Analysis: This shows the polite form using [[请]] (qǐng). It's standard in business or more formal settings.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我可以**进来**吗？
    * Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?
    * English: May I come in?
    * Analysis: An essential polite question to ask before entering someone's private space, like an office or room.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 一只蝴蝶从窗户飞**进来**了。
    * Pinyin: Yī zhī húdié cóng chuānghu fēi jìnlái le.
    * English: A butterfly flew in through the window.
    * Analysis: Shows **进来** used as a complement to another verb (飞 fēi - to fly). The speaker is inside the room where the butterfly ended up.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 快**进来**屋里，外面下雨了！
    * Pinyin: Kuài jìnlái wū lǐ, wàimiàn xià yǔ le!
    * English: Quickly come inside the house, it's raining outside!
    * Analysis: When a location word (like 屋里 wū lǐ - inside the house) is used, it's placed between 进 and 来. The structure is: 进 + Location + 来.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 刚才谁**进来**过我的房间？
    * Pinyin: Gāngcái shéi jìnlái guo wǒ de fángjiān?
    * English: Who came into my room just now?
    * Analysis: A simple question about a past action. The speaker is likely in the room now, asking the question.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 没有我的允许，谁也别**进来**！
    * Pinyin: Méiyǒu wǒ de yǔnxǔ, shéi yě bié jìnlái!
    * English: Without my permission, nobody come in!
    * Analysis: A strong, prohibitive command using [[别]] (bié). This shows a very different, authoritative tone.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 外面太吵了，老师说的话我一句也听不**进来**。
    * Pinyin: Wàimiàn tài chǎo le, lǎoshī shuō de huà wǒ yījù yě tīng bu jìnlái.
    * English: It's too noisy outside, I can't take in a single sentence the teacher is saying.
    * Analysis: A fantastic example of the potential complement form. "听不进来" (tīng bu jìnlái) means the action of "listening-in" is not possible. The sound can't "enter" the mind.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 看到打折，很多顾客都涌**进来**了。
    * Pinyin: Kàndào dǎzhé, hěnduō gùkè dōu yǒng jìnlái le.
    * English: Seeing the discount, many customers flooded in.
    * Analysis: Uses another verb, [[涌]] (yǒng - to surge/flood), with **进来** as the directional complement. The speaker is inside the store watching the customers rush in.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他把新买的沙发搬**进来**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā bǎ xīn mǎi de shāfā bān jìnlái le.
    * English: He moved the newly bought sofa in.
    * Analysis: Using the [[把]] (bǎ) structure. The action is "搬" (bān - to move), the direction is **进来**, and the speaker is inside the house.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The single most common mistake for English speakers is confusing **进来 (jìnlái)** with its opposite, **进去 (jìnqù)**.
**The Golden Rule:** Your choice depends on the speaker's location.
  * **Use 进来 (jìnlái - come in):** When the direction of movement is **TOWARDS** you.
    * //Context:// You are **inside** your house. Your friend is at the door.
    * //You say:// "快**进来**！" (Kuài jìnlái! - Quick, come in!)
  * **Use 进去 (jìnqù - go in):** When the direction of movement is **AWAY** from you.
    * //Context:// You and your friend are both **outside** a coffee shop.
    * //You say:// "我们**进去**吧。" (Wǒmen jìnqù ba. - Let's go in.)
**Common Mistake Example:**
  * Two people are standing on the street looking at a museum.
  * **Incorrect:** "你想**进来**看看吗？" (Nǐ xiǎng jìnlái kànkan ma?)
  * **Why it's wrong:** The speaker is outside, so the movement into the museum is //away// from them.
  * **Correct:** "你想**进去**看看吗？" (Nǐ xiǎng jìnqù kànkan ma? - Do you want to go in and have a look?)
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
Understanding **进来 (jìnlái)** is the key to mastering the entire system of Chinese directional complements.
  * [[进去]] (jìnqù) - The direct counterpart: to go in, to enter (moving away from the speaker).
  * [[出来]] (chūlái) - To come out (exiting, moving towards the speaker).
  * [[出去]] (chūqù) - To go out (exiting, moving away from the speaker).
  * [[上来]] (shànglái) - To come up (moving upwards, towards the speaker).
  * [[上去]] (shàngqù) - To go up (moving upwards, away from the speaker).
  * [[下来]] (xiàlái) - To come down (moving downwards, towards the speaker).
  * [[下去]] (xiàqù) - To go down (moving downwards, away from the speaker).
  * [[回来]] (huílái) - To come back, to return (moving towards the speaker's location or home base).
  * [[回去]] (huíqù) - To go back, to return (moving away from the speaker's current location).
  * [[请进]] (qǐng jìn) - A common, slightly more formal way to say "Please enter." It omits the direction for brevity and is often used by staff or on signs.