來

lái ㄌㄞˊ

1. • to come
   • hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來|回来[hui2 lai5])
   • (used as a substitute for a more specific verb)
2. • ever since (as in 自古以來|自古以来[zi4 gu3 yi3 lai2])
   • for the past (amount of time)
3. • the coming ... the next ... (as in 來世|来世[lai2 shi4])

     prefix

4. • in order to

     between two verbs

5. • approximately

     after a round number

6. • (used after 得[de2] to indicate possibility, as in 談得來|谈得来[tan2 de5 lai2], or after 不[bu4] to indicate impossibility, as in 吃不來|吃不来[chi1 bu5 lai2])