How to Say “Come From” with 来自 (láizì)
来自 (láizì) is one word meaning “to come from / originate from.” It takes the source directly: Subject + 来自 + Source. 我来自北京 (“I come from Beijing”), 这些茶来自云南. Because it also handles abstract origins, it stretches to “stem from / originate from”: 他的灵感来自大自然 (“his inspiration comes from nature”). It never adds 从 or 来, which is what separates it from the 从…来 motion frame.
Why this trips learners up
来自 (láizì) is a single fused word meaning “to come from / originate from.” It states the origin of a person or thing and takes that source directly: Subject + 来自 + Source. 我来自北京 (“I'm from Beijing”), 这些茶来自云南 (“these teas come from Yunnan”), 我们班的同学来自很多国家 (“the students in our class come from many countries”).
Its reach is wider than a map. Because 来自 just points to where something originates, it works for people, messages and completely abstract sources, where English shifts to “stem from / originate from”: 这个消息来自一位老朋友 (“this news is from an old friend”), 他的灵感来自大自然 (“his inspiration comes from nature”), 他今天的成就来自多年的努力 (“his achievements stem from years of effort”). It also forms a tidy modifier with 的: 一份来自公司的通知 (“a notice from the company”).
The one thing to get right is that 来自 is complete on its own. It already contains 来 (“come”), so you never wrap it in the 从…来 frame: don't add 从 before the source (not 来自从中国) and don't add 来 after it (not 来自日本来). Just 来自 + the source.
That is exactly where learners collide with 从…来, the wiki's look-alike. Both come out as English “come from,” but they are built differently. 来自 is one word that takes the source directly and states an origin (and does the abstract sources 从…来 can't): 我来自上海. 从…来 is a two-part motion frame that must close with 来 and describes an actual coming-from movement: 我从上海来, 他刚从机场来. 来自 is also the more written / formal of the two. Quick test: if you're stating where someone or something is from (especially an idea, a report or a mix of places), reach for 来自; if you mean an actual coming from somewhere, use 从…来.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
wǒ 我 Subject láizì 来自 Pattern Běijīng 北京 Place
I come from Beijing (Subject + 来自 + a place).
zhèxiē chá 这些茶 Subject láizì 来自 Pattern Yúnnán 云南 Place
These teas come from Yunnan (来自 + a place of origin).
wǒmen bān de tóngxué 我们班的同学 Subject láizì 来自 Pattern hěn duō guójiā 很多国家 Place
The students in our class come from many countries (来自 is neat for a group of origins).
zhège xiāoxi 这个消息 Subject láizì 来自 Pattern yí wèi lǎo péngyou 一位老朋友 Object
This news is from an old friend (来自 + a person as the source).
tā de línggǎn 他的灵感 Subject láizì 来自 Pattern dàzìrán 大自然 Object
His inspiration comes from nature (来自 + an abstract source, “stems from”).
zhè 这 Subject shì 是 Verb yí fèn 一份 Measure word láizì 来自 Pattern gōngsī 公司 Object de 的 Function word tōngzhī 通知 Object
This is a notice from the company (来自…的 as a modifier before the noun).
suīrán 虽然 Connector wǒmen 我们 Subject láizì 来自 Pattern bùtóng de chéngshì 不同的城市 Place dàn ，但 Connector dōu 都 Adverb xǐhuan 喜欢 Verb Zhōngguó cài 中国菜 Object
Although we come from different cities, we all like Chinese food (来自 inside a 虽然…但… frame).
tā jīntiān de chéngjiù 他今天的成就 Subject láizì 来自 Pattern duōnián de nǔlì 多年的努力 Object
His achievements today stem from years of effort (来自 + an abstract source).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 来自 already means “come from,” so it takes the source directly, with no 从 in front. “I come from China” is 我来自中国, not 我来自从中国. Use either 来自 + source (来自中国) or the separate 从…来 frame (从中国来), never both stacked together.
Why it happens: 来自 already contains 来 (“come”), so you don't add another 来 after the source. “These books come from Japan” is 这些书来自日本, not 这些书来自日本来. The 来 only reappears when you switch to the other pattern, 从日本来.
Why it happens: The flip side: if you do use 从, a bare 从 + place is unfinished, it must close with 来. “I come from China” is 我从中国来 (or simply 我来自中国), never 我从中国 on its own. 来自 needs no 来; 从 always does.
Compare & contrast
| 来自 (láizì): one word, states an origin | 从…来 (cóng…lái): the two-part motion frame | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 我来自上海wǒ láizì Shànghǎi = “I come from Shanghai” (states origin, one word, no 来) | 我从上海来wǒ cóng Shànghǎi lái = “I come from Shanghai” (the motion frame, 从…来, must close with 来) | 我来自上海 = “I come from Shanghai,” one word stating origin, no 来 needed. 我从上海来 = “I come from Shanghai,” the 从…来 motion frame that must close with 来. Same English, two builds. |
| 客户来自不同的国家kèhù láizì bùtóng de guójiā = “the clients come from different countries” (来自 + source, neat for groups) | 他刚从机场来tā gāng cóng jīchǎng lái = “he just came from the airport” (从…来, an actual movement just made) | 客户来自不同的国家 = “the clients come from different countries,” 来自 taking a source neatly (and it would handle an abstract origin too). 他刚从机场来 = “he just came from the airport,” 从…来 reporting an actual movement just made. An origin stated versus a coming-from movement. |
Try it yourself
Say “I come from a small city.” Subject + 来自 + the source, no 从 and no extra 来.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Come From” with 来自 (láizì) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.