嚟 (lí) - To come & to arrive (Cantonese usage)
嚟 · lí
To come;
to arrive (Cantonese usage);
used as a verb particle indicating direction or purpose.
To cometo arrive (Cantonese usage)used as a verb particle indicating direction or
Usage highlights
Come hereCome overUsed forWhen comingComing to helpComing to play
Usage & contexts
Examples
- When will you come?(你几时嚟?)
- I'm coming to your place tomorrow(我明日嚟你度)
- He came to help(佢嚟帮手)
- This is for eating(呢个系用嚟食嘅)
Collocations
- Come here(过嚟)
- Come over(过嚟)
- Used for(用嚟)
- When coming(几时嚟)
- Coming to help(嚟帮手)
- Coming to play(嚟玩)
Idioms
- Come and go freely(自由嚟去)
- Come uninvited(不请自嚟)
- What brings you here?(乜风把你吹嚟?)
Cultural background
FAQ- Primarily used in Cantonese and other Yue Chinese varieties, rarely in Mandarin
- Functions as both a main verb meaning 'to come' and as a verbal particle indicating purpose
- Represents the preservation of Middle Chinese vocabulary in southern Chinese dialects