Meaning of 前来
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to come (formal)
- before
- previously
How to use 前来
前来 is used in formal speech and writing, such as news reports, speeches, and official notices, often for guests or officials arriving somewhere. It usually comes before a purpose verb or after the person who comes. Example: 感谢各位前来参加会议。(Gǎnxiè gèwèi qiánlái cānjiā huìyì.) Thank you all for coming to attend the meeting.
前 (qián) means forward or front, and 来 (lái) means to come. Picture someone stepping forward to come toward you, which is the polite, formal way of saying someone has come.
Common mistake: Learners often use 前来 in casual conversation, like 你明天前来吗, which sounds stiff and odd. With friends, just say 来 (lái) or 过来 (guòlái). Also do not confuse it with 前天 (qiántiān), the day before yesterday.
前来 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
前 qián · front · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
来 lái · to come · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 前来.
| 回来 | huílái | to return; to come back |
| 起来 | qǐlái | to stand up; to get up; also pr. [qi3lai2] |
| 出来 | chūlái | to come out; to appear |
| 进来 | jìnlái | to come in |
| 来到 | láidào | to arrive; to come |
| 前天 | qiántiān | the day before yesterday |
| 前边 | qiánbian | front; the front side |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over; to manage |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before; formerly |
| 带来 | dàilái | to bring; (fig.) to bring about; to produce |
| 来自 | láizì | to come from (a place); From: (in email header) |
| 面前 | miànqián | in front of; facing |
Questions about 前来
What does 前来 mean?
前来 (qiánlái) means "to come (formal); before" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 前来?
前来 is made of 2 characters: 前 (9 strokes), 来 (7 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 前来 an HSK word?
Yes. 前来 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 前来 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 前来 is written 前來.
What is the difference between 前来 and 来到?
来到 (láidào) means to arrive at a place and is usually followed by the destination, as in 来到北京. 前来 stresses coming forward for a purpose and is often followed by another verb, as in 前来参观 (come to visit).
Can 前来 mean before or previously?
Some dictionaries list this older sense, but in modern Chinese it is rare. Today you will almost always see 前来 meaning to come in a formal context, so learn that meaning first.