Chinese Basic 1
Shopping

The verb 来

The basic meaning of (lái) is to come. In addition to this basic meaning can be used in a range of different ways depending on the context.

When ordering food it can mean to bring:
再来一瓶啤酒! (Zài lái yī píng píjiǔ!) Please bring me another bottle of beer!

When shopping it can mean 'to give':
来一斤香蕉。 (Lái yī jīn xiāngjiāo) (Please) give me a pound of bananas.

It can also mean to do or it is somebody's turn:
让我来。 (Ràng wǒ lái.) 'Let me do it.'