faan1 lai4返來返来
Jyutpingfaan1 lai4
Yalefāan làih
Definition
To come back or return.
colloquialdaily actionstransport
How it's used
Distinguish this from 返去, which means to go back. Use 返來 when the speaker is at the destination or the movement is towards the speaker, whereas 返去 is used when the movement is away from the speaker. It is a very common directional complement that often implies returning to a home base or a familiar location.
Examples
What time are you coming back?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 翻來, which is a common character error; always use 返 for movement. Additionally, ensure you do not use it when you mean to return an object, for which you should use 還.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
