guolai: 过来 - Come Over, Come Here
Quick Summary
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Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 过来 (guòlái), which means “to come over” or “to come here.” This guide breaks down its use as a critical directional complement, showing you how to call people over, ask them to bring things, and even use it figuratively to talk about overcoming difficulties. Master guòlái to make your spoken Chinese sound more natural and precise.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): guòlái
Part of Speech: Verb, Directional Complement
HSK Level: HSK 2
Concise Definition: To move from a different location to the speaker's location; to come over.
In a Nutshell: 过来 (guòlái) is a fundamental directional word that combines the action of “crossing” (过) with the direction of “coming” (来). Think of it as telling someone to cross the space that separates you and arrive at your location. It's the verbal equivalent of gesturing for someone to come towards you.
Character Breakdown
过 (guò): This character originally depicted a person passing a milestone. It means “to cross,” “to pass,” or “to go through.” Think of crossing a street or passing an exam.
来 (lái): This character is a pictogram of a wheat plant, symbolizing a harvest being brought in. It has come to mean “to come” or “to arrive.”
When combined, 过来 (guòlái) literally means “cross and come,” which perfectly creates the meaning of “to come over here.”
Cultural Context and Significance
While 过来 (guòlái) is primarily a grammatical function word, its usage is deeply tied to social context and space. The act of saying “你过来 (nǐ guòlái)” establishes the speaker's location as the immediate destination. It's a direct, often informal, and efficient way of summoning someone.
In Western cultures, one might say, “Could you come here for a moment?” to be polite. In Chinese, among friends, family, or colleagues of similar status, a simple “你过来一下 (nǐ guòlái yīxià)” is perfectly normal and not considered rude. It reflects a cultural directness in communication within established relationships.
Furthermore, its abstract meaning of “to pull through” or “get over” a hardship (e.g., an illness or a breakup) taps into the Chinese cultural value of resilience and perseverance (吃苦耐劳 - chīkǔ nàiláo, to bear hardships and stand hard work). Getting “over” a difficulty implies you have crossed a tough period and “arrived” at a better state.
Practical Usage in Modern China
过来 (guòlái) is extremely common in daily conversation. Its usage can be broken down into two main categories:
1. Literal Movement
This is the most common usage, indicating physical movement towards the speaker. It can be used alone as a command or attached to another verb to describe how someone is coming over.
2. Abstract/Figurative Meaning
This usage is more nuanced and describes a change of state, often a recovery from a negative situation.
Recovering from hardship: He was in a coma but finally “came around.” (他昏迷了，但最后还是过来了。)
Mental shift: Realizing something or “coming around” to an idea. (我想了半天才想过来。)
Time duration: This is a more advanced structure indicating a period of time up to the present, e.g., “For the past few years…” (这几年以来 - zhè jǐ nián yǐlái… Though 来 is more common here, 过来 can be used to describe how one has “gotten through” the time.)
Example Sentences
Example 1:
你过来一下，我给你看个东西。
Pinyin: Nǐ guòlái yīxià, wǒ gěi nǐ kàn ge dōngxi.
English: Come here for a second, I want to show you something.
Analysis: A very common, informal invitation. 一下 (yīxià) softens the command, making it sound more casual.
Example 2:
你能把桌子上的那本书拿过来吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ zhuōzi shàng de nà běn shū ná guòlái ma?
English: Can you bring that book on the table over to me?
Analysis: Here, 过来 is a complement to the verb 拿 (ná - to take/get). It specifies the direction of the “taking” is towards the speaker.
Example 3:
看到我们在这里，他马上就跑过来了。
Pinyin: Kàndào wǒmen zài zhèlǐ, tā mǎshàng jiù pǎo guòlái le.
English: As soon as he saw us here, he immediately ran over.
Analysis: This shows 过来 attached to another verb, 跑 (pǎo - to run), to form a resultative complement describing the direction of the action.
Example 4:
他病得很重，但医生说他能挺过来。
Pinyin: Tā bìng de hěn zhòng, dàn yīshēng shuō tā néng tǐng guòlái.
English: He is very sick, but the doctor says he can pull through.
Analysis: A perfect example of the figurative meaning. 挺过来 (tǐng guòlái) means to endure and get through a difficult situation.
Example 5:
你怎么过来了？我以为你今天很忙。
Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme guòlái le? Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ jīntiān hěn máng.
English: How come you're here? / What brings you over? I thought you were busy today.
Analysis: A common way to express surprise at someone's arrival.
Example 6:
我今天太累了，实在走不过来了。
Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, shízài zǒu bu guòlái le.
English: I'm too tired today, I really can't walk over.
Analysis: This introduces the negative potential complement form: Verb + 不 (bu) + Complement. 走不过来 (zǒu bu guòlái) means “unable to walk over.”
Example 7:
这个道理很简单，你怎么还没想过来？
Pinyin: Zhège dàolǐ hěn jiǎndān, nǐ zěnme hái méi xiǎng guòlái?
English: This concept is very simple, how have you not figured it out yet?
Analysis: Figurative use for a mental shift. 想过来 (xiǎng guòlái) means to think something through and understand it, to “come around” to the right way of thinking.
Example 8:
他是从上海飞过来参加会议的。
Pinyin: Tā shì cóng Shànghǎi fēi guòlái cānjiā huìyì de.
English: He flew over from Shanghai to attend the meeting.
Analysis: Shows movement from a distant location towards the location of the event/speaker.
Example 9:
你站远一点，别让车撞过来。
Pinyin: Nǐ zhàn yuǎn yīdiǎn, bié ràng chē zhuàng guòlái.
English: Stand a bit further away, don't let a car come crashing over.
Analysis: Demonstrates that the action (crashing) is moving towards the subject (you).
Example 10:
过去的日子虽然苦，但我们都一起扛过来了。
Pinyin: Guòqù de rìzi suīrán kǔ, dàn wǒmen dōu yīqǐ káng guòlái le.
English: Although the past days were bitter, we carried through them all together.
Analysis: Another powerful, figurative use. 扛过来 (káng guòlái) means to shoulder a burden and get through it successfully.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 过来 (guòlái) and its opposite, 过去 (guòqù).
The key is the speaker's perspective.
If your friend is across the street and you want them to join you, you say: “你过来！” (Nǐ guòlái!) - You come over!
If you and your friend are together and you want them to go to the other side of the street, you say: “你过去！” (Nǐ guòqù!) - You go over there!
Common Mistake Example:
A student is in a classroom, and the teacher is at their desk. The teacher wants the student to come to the desk.
Incorrect: 老师说：“你过去我这里。” (Lǎoshī shuō: “Nǐ guòqù wǒ zhèlǐ.”)
Why it's wrong: 过去 (guòqù) implies movement away from the speaker (the teacher). The teacher is telling the student to “go over there” to where the teacher already is, which is contradictory.
Correct: 老师说：“你过来我这里。” (Lǎoshī shuō: “Nǐ guòlái wǒ zhèlǐ.”)
过去 (guòqù) - The direct antonym of 过来. It means “to go over,” “in the past,” or to “pass away.”
来 (lái) - The core component meaning “to come.” The foundational concept for all “come” directions.
去 (qù) - The core component meaning “to go.” The opposite of 来.
回来 (huílái) - To come back. (Movement: away, then back
towards the speaker).
回去 (huíqù) - To go back. (Movement:
away from the speaker back to an origin point).
上来 (shànglái) - To come up (e.g., up the stairs towards the speaker).
下来 (xiàlái) - To come down (e.g., down the stairs towards the speaker).
进来 (jìnlái) - To come in (e.g., into the room where the speaker is).
过来人 (guòláirén) - A person who has “come through” an experience; an experienced person, a veteran. This noun shows the depth of the word's figurative meaning.
方向补语 (fāngxiàng bǔyǔ) - The grammatical term for “directional complement,” which is the category that 过来, 过去, 上来, etc., all belong to.