Verb + 回来 / 回去
HSK 3- Complements
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to indicate the action of returning to the speaker's location (回来) or returning to another place (回去).
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
回来 (huí lái) and 回去 (huí qù) are directional complements expressing the action of "returning" or "coming/going back."
- Use
回来when the action is directed toward the speaker. - Use
回去when the action is directed away from the speaker, returning to some other place.
When a place object (such as 家, 学校) is present, it is placed between 回 and 来/去. For example: 回家去 (go back home). When the object is a thing, it typically follows at the end. For example: 带回来一本书 (bring back a book).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 你什么时候回来？繁: 你什麼時候回來？Nǐ shénme shíhou huílái?
When will you come back?
- 我上完课就回去。繁: 我上完課就回去。Wǒ shàng wán kè jiù huíqù.
I go home right after class ends.
- 他从越南带回来一些特产。繁: 他從越南帶回來一些特產。Tā cóng Yuènán dài huílái yìxiē tèchǎn.
He brought back some local specialties from Vietnam.
- 我们回家去吧。繁: 我們回家去吧。Wǒmen huí jiā qù ba.
Let's go home.
- 你快回教室来！繁: 你快回教室來！Nǐ kuài huí jiàoshì lái!
You hurry back to the classroom!
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我们回去家吧。Correct:我们回家去吧。
When the object is a location (家), it must stand between the verb (回) and the directional complement (去).
- Wrong:我朋友寄回去我一本书。Correct:我朋友寄给我一本书。
With verbs like 寄 (to send), do not use 回去/回来 directly. It is more natural to use the structure 寄给 (send to) instead.