回来 huí lai
“to return; to come back”
verb2021 list level 1Traditional 回來
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
回来 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 361: 回来 huílái — Level 2; official annotation 2 (动). PDF page 89
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 回来
回来 means "to come back" — movement toward where the speaker is now. It is a separable directional verb: with a place or purpose, the 来 often follows the object/verb (回家来, 买东西回来), and 他回来了 means "he has come back".
例句Example sentences
- 我爸爸明天回来。wǒ bà ba míng tiān huí lái.My father is coming back tomorrow.
- 他买东西回来了。tā mǎi dōng xi huí lái le.He has come back from shopping.
- 你什么时候回家来？nǐ shén me shí hou huí jiā lái?When are you coming back home?
易混词Easily confused
回来vs回去
回来 is coming back toward the speaker's location; 回去 is going back away from the speaker.