‘回来’ (huí lái) is a separable verb meaning ‘to come back’ or ‘to return’. It combines 回 (huí), which conveys the idea of ‘returning’ or ‘going back’, and 来 (lái), meaning ‘to come’. Together, they emphasize movement toward the speaker’s location or a previously mentioned place — not just any return, but specifically coming back *here*. It is commonly used in daily conversations about travel, errands, work, or visits.

The word functions as a single verbal unit but can be separated by aspect particles (e.g., 回来了, 回来过, 回来一下) or objects (e.g., 回来一趟). Unlike the more formal or literary ‘返回’ (fǎn huí), ‘回来’ is neutral and widely used in spoken and written Mandarin. It often appears with time words (e.g., 明天回来) or directional complements (e.g., 回来以后). It implies completion of a round-trip or temporary absence, and frequently carries an expectation of reunion or resumption of normal activity.