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March 24, 2026
来自(來自)láizì(lai2zi4)
来自 means 'to come from' and is used to indicate the origin of a person or thing. It is commonly used in conversations about where someone is from or in formal contexts such as email headers.
Frequency#710DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, where a person comes from can carry significant meaning, influencing social interactions and perceptions. The phrase 来自 is often used in introductions and networking situations.
Memory Tip
Think of 来 (come) as someone arriving at your door and 自 (self) as the person explaining where they're from. Picture someone knocking on your door and saying, 'I come from X!' to remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 来自
láizì(lai2zi4)
1to come from (a place)
2From: (in email header)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 来自
来自Simplified
來自Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#710Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 来自
Podcast: 来自
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AI Study Notes for 来自
Quick Contrast
来源 (láiyuán) - use 来自 (láizì) for indicating origin in a more personal context, whereas 来源 (láiyuán) is often used for sources of information or materials.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 来 (come) as someone arriving at your door and 自 (self) as the person explaining where they're from. Picture someone knocking on your door and saying, 'I come from X!' to remember the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone; ensure you pronounce 来 (lai2) with the second tone and 自 (zi4) with the fourth tone. This phrase is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but in emails, it is particularly formal when indicating the sender's location.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 来自 connects well with other location-related terms. Students should focus on practicing its usage in both spoken and written contexts, especially when discussing origins.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, where a person comes from can carry significant meaning, influencing social interactions and perceptions. The phrase 来自 is often used in introductions and networking situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 来自 with 走 (zou3) which means 'to go,' leading to incorrect phrases like '我走自中国' instead of '我来自中国'. Always remember that 来 is about coming from a place.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 来自
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Grammar Patterns of 来自
来自 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
A high turnout was reported at the polling booths.
10
尼克·沙利文对这一季来自巴黎和米兰的时装系列作了预评。
ní kè· · shā lì wén duì zhè yī jì lái zì bā lí hé mǐ lán de shí zhuāng xì liè zuò le yù。
Nick Sullivan previews this season's collections from Paris and Milan.
Cultural Notes for 来自
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, where a person comes from can carry significant meaning, influencing social interactions and perceptions. The phrase 来自 is often used in introductions and networking situations.
Frequently Asked Questions about 来自
You can use 来自 for both objects and people, but it is more commonly used for people.
来自 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is particularly appropriate in formal situations like emails.
You can say '我来自中国' (I come from China) to indicate your origin.
