来 (lai) — “to” linking actions — HSK 4

Verb Phrase 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb Phrase 2

来 (lái) — “to” linking actions

HSK 4Verbs

Verb Phrase 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb Phrase 2

HSK 4Verbs

来 (lái) — “to” linking actions

Rule structure

来 (lái) can be used as a dummy verb linking a means/method to a purpose, meaning "in order to, so as to". It's less formal than 以 (yǐ).

Rule structure

来 (lái) can be used as a dummy verb linking a means/method to a purpose, meaning "in order to, so as to". It's less formal than 以 (yǐ).

Examples

我们开个会来讨论这个问题。

Wǒmen kāi gè huì lái tǎolùn zhège wèntí.

We'll hold a meeting to discuss this issue.

我买水果来给你。

Wǒ mǎi shuǐguǒ lái gěi nǐ.

I'll buy fruits to give you.

我买水果来招待客人。

Wǒ mǎi shuǐguǒ lái zhāodài kèrén.

I'll buy fruit to entertain guests.

Examples

我们开个会来讨论这个问题。

Wǒmen kāi gè huì lái tǎolùn zhège wèntí.

We'll hold a meeting to discuss this issue.

我买水果来给你。

Wǒ mǎi shuǐguǒ lái gěi nǐ.

I'll buy fruits to give you.

我买水果来招待客人。

Wǒ mǎi shuǐguǒ lái zhāodài kèrén.

I'll buy fruit to entertain guests.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

来

lái

To come

我们

wǒmen

We, us

开

kāi

To open, to start; to drive (a car); to turn on

个

gè

General measure word

会

huì

Can, to be able to; meeting

讨论

tǎolùn

To discuss, discussion

这个

zhè ge

This, this one

问题

wèntí

Question, problem

我

wǒ

I, me

买

mǎi

To buy

水果

shuǐguǒ

Fruit

给

gěi

To give; for (preposition indicating recipient of action)

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “‘to’ linking actions” in Chinese with 来?

Use the structure: Verb Phrase 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb Phrase 2. For example: 我们开个会来讨论这个问题。 — “We'll hold a meeting to discuss this issue”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

我们开个会来讨论这个问题。 — “We'll hold a meeting to discuss this issue”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.

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More HSK 4 grammar rules

这得看 — it depends on

这 (zhè) / 那 (nà) + 要看 (yào kàn) / 得看 (děi kàn) + situation

来自 — to come from

Subj. + 来自 (láizì) + Place / Source

好像 — it seems

好像 (hǎoxiàng) + Clause

在于 — lies in

在于 (zàiyú) + Noun / Clause

以为 — mistakenly think that

Subj. + 以为 (yǐwéi)⋯⋯

通过 — through, by means of

通过 (tōngguò) + Means / Method + Verb

全 — whole, entire

全 (quán) + Measure Word + Noun

到 — until (time/place/degree)

Verb + 到 (dào) + Time / Place / Degree