嚟（趨向）

Coming Toward the Speaker

Level 1Sounds Like lai4

In Cantonese, 嚟 (lai4 / lei4) is attached after motion or path verbs to show that the movement is directed toward the speaker (or the speaker's reference point), equivalent to 'come'.

How It Works

1. Primary Function

The particle 嚟 (lai4 / lei4) functions as a deictic directional complement. It shows movement oriented toward the speaker or speaker's viewpoint.

It commonly attaches to path verbs to create directional compounds:

  • 入嚟 (jap6 lai4): come in
  • 出嚟 (ceot1 lai4): come out
  • 上嚟 (soeng5 lai4): come up
  • 落嚟 (lok6 lai4): come down
  • 過嚟 (gwo3 lai4): come over
  • 返嚟 (faan1 lai4): come back / return
  • 埋嚟 (maai4 lai4): come closer / approach

2. Sentence Structure and Object Placement

Unlike Standard Mandarin, spoken Cantonese normally keeps compound directional complements together before location objects:
• 返嚟香港 (faan1 lai4 hoeng1 gong2) = come back to Hong Kong.

For physical item objects, the item can either be placed between the action verb and 嚟 or follow the directional phrase:
• 拎本書嚟 (ning1 bun2 syu1 lai4) = bring the book over.

Aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) attach before 嚟 inside the directional compound (e.g., 入咗嚟, 'came in').

3. Pronunciation Notes

In everyday spoken Cantonese, 嚟 is pronounced as either lai4 or lei4. Both options are completely interchangeable in grammatical function. In formal written Cantonese or standard Chinese text, the character 來 (loi4) replaces 嚟.

Examples (4)

  1. 你快啲上嚟啦，我喺樓上等緊你。

    Come up quickly! I am waiting for you upstairs.

    Word by Word: you quick-a-bit ascend-come SFP, I at upstairs wait-ing you

    上嚟 (soeng5 lai4) indicates movement upward toward where the speaker is currently located.

  2. 佢啱啱返咗嚟香港。

    He just came back to Hong Kong.

    Word by Word: he just return-PERF-come Hong Kong

    返咗嚟 (faan1 zo2 lai4) stays intact as a unit before the place object 香港 (hoeng1 gong2).

  3. 請幫我拎杯水嚟。

    Please bring me a glass of water.

    Word by Word: please help me bring CL water come

    The item object 杯水 (bui1 seoi2) is placed between the verb 拎 (ning1) and 嚟.

  4. 外面好熱，你快啲入嚟啦！

    It's very hot outside, come inside quickly!

    Word by Word: outside very hot, you quick-a-bit enter-come SFP

    入嚟 (jap6 lai4) directs the listener to enter the indoor space where the speaker is.

Common Mistakes

  • Splitting location objects inside directional compounds (Mandarin word-order transfer).

    佢入房嚟。
    佢入嚟房。

    In Cantonese, keep compound directional complements intact before destination objects (e.g. 入嚟房 or 返嚟香港), rather than wedging the place name inside.

  • Using bare 嚟 (lai4) for going to someone else's place from a neutral viewpoint.

    Different Meaning我聽日嚟你屋企。
    我聽日過嚟你屋企。

    我聽日嚟你屋企 is natural when you speak from the listener's side, for example on the phone with them. If you stand on neutral ground, use 去 (heoi3), or 過嚟 (gwo3 lai4, come over) for a plain 'come over'.

  • Using standard literary reading 'loi4' in casual Cantonese conversation.

    你幾時返來 (loi4)？
    你幾時返嚟 (lai4 / lei4)？

    In spoken Cantonese, always pronounce 嚟 as lai4 or lei4. Using the formal reading loi4 sounds stiff and unnatural in everyday speech.

How It Connects

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嚟（趨向）Level 1Coming Toward the Speaker

Learn This First

To understand the directional use of 嚟 (lai4), learners should first be familiar with the concept of verbal particles and basic Cantonese word order, as this pattern functions as a post-verbal modifier indicating movement toward the speaker.

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