Meaning
回来 means to come back or return to the speaker's location. It combines 回 (to return) with the directional complement 来 (to come), indicating movement back toward the speaker or a reference point. This is one of the most fundamental directional complements in Mandarin.
Usage
Native speakers use 回来 when the action involves returning TO where the speaker is or was. It contrasts with 回去 (to go back), which indicates returning AWAY from the speaker. Commonly used in daily conversation to talk about coming home, returning from trips, or bringing things back. Can also be used figuratively to mean 'to recover' or 'to come to one's senses.'
Examples
- 01你什么时候回来？?When are you coming back?
- 02我爸爸出差了，下周才能回来。, .My dad is on a business trip and won't be able to come back until next week.
Characters
Common collocations
- 回来了came back, have returned
- 回不来cannot come back
- 回来吧come back (suggestion/invitation)
- 刚回来just came back
Antonyms
Origin
Compound of 回 (return) and 来 (come). The combination creates a directional complement structure that specifies the direction of the return action relative to the speaker.