Definition
一来 is an adverb used in two distinct patterns. The most common use is in the correlative structure 一来…二来… ('firstly…secondly…') to list reasons or purposes. It can also mean 'as soon as (someone) arrives', but this is a literal reading of 一 + 来 and is less common as a standalone adverb. In the listing pattern, 一来 always appears at the beginning of the first clause, and the second clause is introduced by 二来 or another parallel marker.
adv.
firstlyin the first place (used to enumerate reasons or purposes, often paired with 二来)as soon as (someone) arrives (literal sense)
Examples
- 一来,。yī lái wǒ xiǎng xuéxí Zhōngwén, èr lái yě xiǎng liǎojiě Zhōngguó wénhuà.Firstly, I want to learn Chinese, and secondly, I also want to understand Chinese culture.
- 一来,,。yī lái tiānqì bù hǎo, èr lái shíjiān tài jǐn, wǒmen jiù bú qù le.First, the weather is bad, and second, time is too tight, so we won't go.
- 一来。Tā yī lái jiù bāng wǒmen jiějué le wèntí.As soon as he arrived, he helped us solve the problem.
Grammar
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.