由来 yóulái origin
How to remember 由来: 由 because + 来 come = origin.
Characters
How it is used
- The origin or how something came to be - 这个节日的由来 (zhège jiérì de yóulái) the origin of this festival.
- Points to the backstory/root of a custom, name, or phenomenon; contrast 来源 (láiyuán, source of a supply/material).
- Also the set phrase 由来已久 (yóulái yǐjiǔ) has long been the case.