下来 xiàlái to come down
to come down; completed action marker; after verb of motion, indicates motion down and towards us, also fig.; indicates continuation from the past towards us; to be harvested (of crops); to be over (of a period of time); to go among the masses (said of leaders)
How to remember 下来: 下 down + 来 come = to come down.
Characters
How it is used
- Directional 'come down' - motion downward and toward the speaker: 从楼上下来 (cóng lóushàng xiàlái) come down from upstairs.
- As a complement it marks something settling or getting fixed in place: 记下来 (jì xiàlái) write it down, 停下来 (tíng xiàlái) come to a stop.
- Contrast 下去 (xiàqù, go down) - 来 is toward the speaker.
Example sentences
- 你给我下来！ Nǐ gěi wǒ xiàlái!Come down here!
- 你得坐下来。 Nǐ děi zuòxià lái.You have to sit down.
- 老人坐了下来。 Lǎorén zuò le xiàlái.The old man sat down.