Usage of 进来
The phrase 进来 literally means "to come in" or "to enter inside." It is commonly used to invite someone to enter a room or building, or to describe the action of someone or something moving from outside to inside.
Common contexts
- Invitations: When you want to politely ask someone to enter, you say 请进来.
- Describing sudden or unexpected entry: 他突然进来了.
- Animals or children entering a space: 小猫跑进来了.
Collocations and patterns
- 请进来 (please come in): a polite invitation.
- 进来了 (has come in): used to indicate completion of the action.
- 跑进来 (run in): describes the manner of entering.
Notes
进来 is directional and implies movement toward the speaker or the inside of a place where the speaker is. It contrasts with 出去 (go out). Avoid confusing 进来 with 进去, which emphasizes entering into a space but not necessarily toward the speaker.
Use 进来 when the focus is on entering into the speaker's current location or perspective.