Coming In Toward You: 进来 (jìnlái)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {进来|jìnlái} to describe movement toward the speaker's current location, specifically entering an enclosed space.
- Use {进来|jìnlái} when the speaker is inside and the subject is entering: {请进来|Qǐng jìnlái}.
- In negative forms, place {不|bù} before the verb: {不进来|bù jìnlái}.
- For questions, use the {吗|ma} particle or the {进来不进来|jìnlái bù jìnlái} structure.
Overview
进来 (jìnlái) is a fundamental compound directional complement in Chinese, crucial for expressing movement inwards towards the speaker or a designated focal point. This structure combines 进 (jìn), meaning "to enter" or "to go in," with 来 (lái), which signifies movement "towards the speaker" or "towards here." Unlike English, where prepositions like "in" or "into" often suffice, Chinese grammar explicitly encodes the directionality relative to the speaker's position. Understanding this core concept is paramount for correctly deploying directional complements.
You will encounter 进来 (jìnlái) frequently in both spoken and written Chinese, from simple commands to nuanced descriptions of action and result.
The essence of 进来 (jìnlái) lies in its perspective-dependent nature. Imagine yourself as the fixed point of reference. Any action that involves entering a space, with that entry culminating at your location, will utilize 进来 (jìnlái).
This makes it distinct from 进去 (jìnqù), which describes entering a space away from your location. This distinction is not merely semantic; it reflects a deep structural characteristic of Chinese that prioritizes the speaker's vantage point in describing movement. Mastering 进来 (jìnlái) is a significant step towards B1 proficiency, enabling you to articulate movements with native-like precision and avoid common misunderstandings stemming from direct English translation.
It’s more than just "come in"; it's a dynamic verb particle that completes the meaning of entry, anchoring it firmly to the immediate context of the speaker. This grammatical construction also highlights the resultative aspect of Chinese verbs, where the complement specifies the outcome or direction of the main verb's action. You will find that many actions involving ingress naturally pair with 进来 (jìnlái), from physically entering a room to data entering a system.
How This Grammar Works
进来 (jìnlái) can be broken down into its two constituent parts, each contributing a vital layer of meaning. 进 (jìn) acts as the primary directional indicator, signifying movement into or inward. It establishes the trajectory of the action across a boundary into an enclosed or defined space.来 (lái), on the other hand, is the orientation indicator, specifying that this inward movement is directed towards the speaker's current location or the location currently in focus from the speaker's perspective. It answers the question, "Where is the action heading relative to me?" The combination 进 + 来 therefore creates a clear and unambiguous expression: "to move into here."走 (zǒu) for walking, 跑 (pǎo) for running, or 拿 (ná) for taking.进来 (jìnlái) then specifies where that walking, running, or taking is directed: into the speaker's space.你进来 (nǐ jìnlái), you are not just saying "you enter"; you are implicitly saying "you enter my space/where I am." This system ensures clarity by always establishing a reference point, making ambiguity about direction highly unlikely.来 (lái) component fixes this reference point at the speaker's side, contrasting sharply with 去 (qù), which would fix it away from the speaker.进来 (jìnlái) also necessitates appreciating its role as a result complement. While primarily directional, it inherently implies the successful completion of the entry action. If someone 走进来 (zǒujìnlái), they have not just started walking in a general inward direction; they have successfully entered the space towards the speaker.进来 (jìnlái) a potent and efficient grammatical unit, conveying both path and conclusion in a concise form.进 (jìn) | In, Enter | Directional Prefix | Indicates movement inwards across a boundary. |来 (lái) | Come | Directional Suffix | Indicates movement towards the speaker/focal point. |进来 (jìnlái) is often unstressed, forming a tight unit with the preceding verb. The entire phrase then describes a single, complete action of movement. For instance, in 老师走进来 (lǎoshī zǒujìnlái), the emphasis is on the teacher's entering action, with 进来 clarifying the destination relative to the speaker.Formation Pattern
进来 (jìnlái) follows a few distinct patterns, depending on whether a place or an object is involved in the action. Precision in these structures is key to accurate communication.
进来 (jìnlái)
V + 进来 | General entry towards the speaker. | 快进来！ | Kuài jìnlái! | Come in quickly! |
他跑进来。 | Tā pǎo jìnlái. | He ran in (towards us). |
请坐，进来吧。 | Qǐng zuò, jìnlái ba. | Please sit, come in. |
进来 (jìnlái) functions directly as the complement to the verb, indicating both the direction and the completion of the action. The verb 进 (jìn) itself can sometimes act as the main verb, combining with 来 (lái) to form a standalone 进来 (jìnlái) verb phrase, though it still behaves as a compound directional complement here.
进 (jìn) and 来 (lái). This is a non-negotiable rule for compound directional complements. The place noun essentially becomes the object of 进 (jìn).
V + 进 + [Place] + 来 | Enter a specific place towards the speaker. | 走进房间来。 | Zǒujìn fángjiān lái. | Walk into the room (towards here). |
把书带进教室来。 | Bǎ shū dàijìn jiàoshì lái. | Bring the book into the classroom (here). |
他跳进水里来。 | Tā tiàojìn shuǐ lǐ lái. | He jumped into the water (towards here). |
了 (le) can be added after 来 (lái) to indicate the completion of the action or a change of state: 走进房间来了 (zǒujìn fángjiān lái le). This 了 always follows the entire directional complement.
把 (bǎ) structure is very common and often preferred for clarity when moving objects.
进来 (jìnlái) (Less common, but possible)
进来 (jìnlái) follows to indicate the direction of the action involving that object. This is common with verbs like 带 (dài) (to bring) or 拿 (ná) (to take/hold). However, if the object is the place itself, this structure doesn't apply; see the
Formation of {进来|jìnlái}
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + 进来
|
走进来
|
|
Negative
|
不/没 + Verb + 进来
|
没走进来
|
|
Question
|
Verb + 进来 + 吗
|
走进来吗？
|
|
A-not-A
|
Verb + 进 + 不 + 进来
|
进不进来？
|
|
Location
|
Verb + 进 + Location + 来
|
走进房间来
|
|
Potential
|
Verb + 进 + 得/不 + 来
|
进得来
|
Meanings
Indicates movement from outside to inside, specifically moving toward the speaker's current position.
Physical Entry
Literal movement into a room or building.
“{他走进来了。|Tā zǒu jìnlái le.}”
“{请进来坐。|Qǐng jìnlái zuò.}”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + 进来
|
跑进来
|
|
Negative
|
没 + Verb + 进来
|
没跑进来
|
|
Question
|
Verb + 进来吗
|
跑进来吗
|
|
A-not-A
|
Verb + 进不进来
|
跑进不进来
|
|
Location
|
Verb + 进 + Place + 来
|
跑进教室来
|
|
Potential
|
Verb + 进得来
|
跑进得来
|
Formality Spectrum
请进。 (Inviting a guest)
请进来。 (Inviting a guest)
进来吧！ (Inviting a guest)
快进！ (Inviting a guest)
Directional Complement Map
Motion
- 走 walk
- 跑 run
Direction
- 进 enter
- 来 toward me
Examples by Level
{请进来。|Qǐng jìnlái.}
Please come in.
{他进来了。|Tā jìnlái le.}
He came in.
{进来吧！|Jìnlái ba!}
Come in!
{我不进来。|Wǒ bù jìnlái.}
I am not coming in.
{猫跑进来了。|Māo pǎo jìnlái le.}
The cat ran in.
{你可以进来吗？|Nǐ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?}
Can you come in?
{他没进来。|Tā méi jìnlái.}
He didn't come in.
{快进来！|Kuài jìnlái!}
Come in quickly!
{他走进房间来了。|Tā zǒu jìn fángjiān lái le.}
He walked into the room.
{请把书拿进来。|Qǐng bǎ shū ná jìnlái.}
Please bring the book in.
{大家都进来了吗？|Dàjiā dōu jìnlái le ma?}
Has everyone come in?
{他刚跑进办公室来了。|Tā gāng pǎo jìn bàngōngshì lái le.}
He just ran into the office.
{如果他进不来，就打电话。|Rúguǒ tā jìn bù lái, jiù dǎ diànhuà.}
If he can't come in, call me.
{风吹进来了。|Fēng chuī jìnlái le.}
The wind blew in.
{他匆匆忙忙地跑进来了。|Tā cōngcōngcōngmángmáng de pǎo jìnlái le.}
He rushed in hurriedly.
{别让他进来。|Bié ràng tā jìnlái.}
Don't let him come in.
{阳光照进来了。|Yángguāng zhào jìnlái le.}
The sunlight shone in.
{他试图挤进来。|Tā shìtú jǐ jìnlái.}
He tried to squeeze in.
{那声音传进来了。|Nà shēngyīn chuán jìnlái le.}
The sound carried in.
{他还没进得来。|Tā hái méi jìn de lái.}
He still hasn't managed to get in.
{冷气顺着门缝钻进来了。|Lěngqì shùnzhe ménfèng zuān jìnlái le.}
The cold air snuck in through the door crack.
{他终于被允许进来了。|Tā zhōngyú bèi yǔnxǔ jìnlái le.}
He was finally allowed to come in.
{不管你怎么说，他都不会进来的。|Bùguǎn nǐ zěnme shuō, tā dōu bú huì jìnlái de.}
No matter what you say, he won't come in.
{他大步流星地走进来，神情严肃。|Tā dàbùliúxīng de zǒu jìnlái, shénqíng yánsù.}
He strode in, looking serious.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the direction relative to the speaker.
Both mean 'enter', but one is a complement, one is a verb.
Word order with objects.
Common Mistakes
走进去 (when speaker is inside)
走进来
进
进来
进来房间
走进房间来
不进来
没进来 (for past)
跑进来房间
跑进房间来
进来吗?
进得来吗?
他进来去
他进来了
他把书拿进来了
他把书拿进来了 (Correct, but check context)
进不来吗?
进不进来?
他进来了房间
他走进房间来了
他进来
他进来了
他走进来
他走进来 (Contextual)
他进得来
他进得来 (Potential)
他没进得来
他没进来
Sentence Patterns
请___进来。
他___进___来了。
他___进不来。
不管你怎么说，他都___。
Real World Usage
我到了，快进来！
请进来，放在桌子上。
请进。
欢迎进来看看我的直播！
请进来办理入住。
快进来坐！
Check your position
Object placement
Use 'Le'
Be polite
Smart Tips
Imagine you are a magnet. If the person is moving toward you, use 'Lai'.
Always sandwich the location between the verb and the complement.
Use 'mei' for negation, not 'bu'.
Add 'Qing' and 'ba' to soften the command.
Pronunciation
Tone change
In fast speech, 'lai' can become neutral tone.
Invitation
请进来↗
Friendly and welcoming.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Jin' as 'In' and 'Lai' as 'Lie' (come lie down here). So, 'In-Lie' = Come in!
Visual Association
Imagine a door. You are inside. A friend is outside. They cross the threshold toward you. The word 'Lai' is like a hook pulling them into your room.
Rhyme
When you're inside and they're at the door, say 'Jìnlái' and open it more.
Story
I was sitting in my room. Suddenly, my friend knocked. I shouted 'Jìnlái!' He walked in. He brought a cake.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, every time you enter a room, say '{我进来了|Wǒ jìnlái le}' out loud.
Cultural Notes
Inviting someone in is a sign of hospitality. Often repeated: '快进来，快进来！'
Similar to mainland, but '进来' is often used with '喔' for softness.
In Cantonese-influenced Mandarin, '进来' is common but '入来' is also heard.
Derived from classical Chinese motion verbs combined with directional particles.
Conversation Starters
你现在在哪儿？
如果我敲门，你会说什么？
描述一下刚才发生的事。
如果有人想进来但进不来，你会怎么帮他？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
他跑___来了。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他走进去 (I am inside).
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Please come in.
Answer starts with: 请进来...
A: 我到了。 B: ___
Verb + 进 + Place + 来
他进来了 -> Negative?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises他跑___来了。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他走进去 (I am inside).
进来 / 请 / 吧
Please come in.
A: 我到了。 B: ___
Verb + 进 + Place + 来
他进来了 -> Negative?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesDon't stand outside, please ___ (walk in).
Reorder: { 办公室 / 经理 / 走 / 进 / 来 / 了 } (The manager walked into the office [where speaker is])
You are on the balcony. Your friend walks from the garden into the living room (inside). You say:
Bring the books in. (Using 把 construction)
Match the context to the word.
Correct this sentence: 这里的空气不太好，我想跑出去公园。
A strange cat just jumped ___ the window!
Context: You are video calling your mom. She is in your room at home. You are at college. She says 'Dad just walked in.' What does she say?
Move / the table / in. (Use 把)
Can I drive the car ___ (in here)?
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
You can, but it sounds like a command or is very formal. '进来' is much more natural.
Use '进去' (go in) instead of '进来' (come in).
It goes between 'Jin' and 'Lai'. Example: '走进房间来'.
Usually not. For abstract entry, use '进入'.
Add '吗' at the end or use the A-not-A form: '进不进来'.
It shows the movement is toward the speaker's location.
Yes, '把书拿进来' (bring the book in).
Yes, it is standard Mandarin, though some dialects have their own versions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
entrar
Chinese requires the directional complement as part of the verb phrase.
entrer
Chinese grammar forces the speaker's perspective into the verb.
hereinkommen
German uses prefixes; Chinese uses post-verbal complements.
入ってくる
The structure is almost identical to Chinese.
يدخل إلى هنا
Chinese integrates the direction into the verb structure.
进来
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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