dou3 loi4到來到来
Jyutpingdou3 loi4
Yaledou lòih
Definition
To arrive or come.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
While 到來 is understood in speech, it carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to the everyday 到. It is more commonly encountered in written announcements, news reports, or formal invitations. In casual conversation, locals almost exclusively use 到 or 嚟 to express the idea of arriving or coming.
Examples
He finally arrived to join our party.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often overuse this in casual settings where it sounds stiff or overly dramatic. Stick to 到 or 嚟 for daily interactions to sound more natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
