Meaning and Usage
"过来" (guòlái) literally means "come over" or "come here." It is used to indicate movement toward the speaker or the speaker's location. It often appears in commands or requests when asking someone to approach.
Common Contexts
- Inviting someone to come closer for help or conversation.
- Describing someone moving from a distance toward the speaker.
- Used in casual or polite requests depending on tone.
Collocations and Patterns
- 请你过来 (please come over): polite request.
- 走过来 (walk over): describing movement.
- 过来帮忙 (come over to help): common phrase in daily life.
Usage Notes
"过来" emphasizes movement toward the speaker, contrasting with "过去" (go over, move away). It is often used in spoken Mandarin and can be softened with 请 (please) for politeness. Avoid confusing it with "过" alone, which can mean "to pass" or "to cross."