来

lái

1. to come
2. (used after a verb) toward the speaker
3. next; coming (as in 来年)
4. (after a period of time) over the past; since (as in 三年来, 以来)
5. about; or so (after a number)
6. (…来说 / …来看: speaking …; looking at it …)
7. (after verb + complement + object) completes the complement (as in 说不出话来, 喘不过气来)
8. (in 起…来) marks the start of an action (e.g. 教训起我来, 说起话来)
9. (used in place of a more specific verb) to do; to have
10. (before a verb) to take on doing something (as in 我来帮你, 由你来决定)
11. (between two verb phrases) in order to; so as to (as in 用这个办法来解决)
12. (对…来说: for …; as far as … is concerned)
13. (linking a viewpoint or basis to 看, 说 etc, as in 从…来看, 就…来说) judging from; in terms of