‘飞来’ literally means ‘fly + come’, and functions as a verb meaning ‘to fly over’ or ‘to arrive by air’. The character 飞 (fēi) means ‘to fly’, and 来 (lái) indicates movement toward the speaker or observer. Together, they describe the action of something — most commonly birds or aircraft — approaching from the air and landing or passing overhead. It emphasizes motion from a distance through the sky and often carries a sense of suddenness or unexpected arrival.

This term is frequently used in contexts involving birds (e.g., migratory species appearing suddenly), airplanes, helicopters, or even metaphorically for unexpected events — though its core meaning remains physical aerial arrival. It’s neutral in register and common in both spoken and written Chinese, especially in nature descriptions, weather reports, or travel narratives. Unlike the more general 来 (lái), 飞来 specifies the mode of arrival: exclusively by air.