Using "lai" to connect two verb phrases

The word 来 (lái) can be used to connect two verb phrases, relating the actions to each other. It can be translated as "in order to" or "so that," and it can help in explaining reasoning.

Structure

Connecting two verb phrases is very straightforward. All you need to do is place 来 in between them. This has the meaning of doing the first verb to achieve the second verb and is often used with words expressing a way or a method, e.g. 通过 (tōngguò) or 用 (yòng).

通过 / 用 + Method + 来 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 用 这 种 方法 来 赚钱 ，真 丢人 。Yòng zhè zhǒng fāngfǎ lái zhuànqián, zhēn diūrén.It's shameful to earn money in this way.
• 很 多 年轻 人 用 手机 APP 来 点 外卖 。Hěn duō niánqīng rén yòng shǒujī APP lái diǎn wàimài.A lot of young people use apps on their cell phones to order food.
• 父母 不 应该 经常 用 钱 来 奖励 孩子 。Fùmǔ bù yīnggāi jīngcháng yòng qián lái jiǎnglì háizi.Parents shouldn't often use money to reward their children.
• 用 这个 APP 来 学 汉字 更 容易 。Yòng zhège APP lái xué Hànzì gèng róngyì.It's easier to use this app to study Chinese characters.
• 你 可以 通过 微信 来 关注 我们 。Nǐ kěyǐ tōngguò Wēixìn lái guānzhù wǒmen.You can follow us on WeChat.
• 很 多 人 都 是 通过 这个 网站 来 找 工作 的 。Hěn duō rén dōu shì tōngguò zhège wǎngzhàn lái zhǎo gōngzuò de.A lot of people look for a job through this website.
• 商店 经常 通过 打折 来 吸引 顾客 。Shāngdiàn jīngcháng tōngguò dǎzhé lái xīyǐn gùkè.Shops often use discounts to attract customers.
• 你们 是 通过什么 平台 来 推广 新 产品 的 ？Nǐmen shì tōngguò shénme píngtái lái tuīguǎng xīn chǎnpǐn de?What platform did you use to promote the new product?
• 我们 需要 通过 培训 来 提高 服务 质量 。Wǒmen xūyào tōngguò péixùn lái tígāo fúwù zhìliàng.We need to improve our service quality through training.
• 双方 都 希望 通过 谈判 来 解决 问题 。Shuāngfāng dōu xīwàng tōngguò tánpàn lái jiějué wèntí.Both sides hope to work out the issues through negotiation.

See also

• Expressing purpose with "weile"
• Facilitating an Outcome with "yibian"
• Expressing Purpose with "hao"
• Expressing "through" with "tongguo"

Sources and further reading

• HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 66) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 268) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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