到來 / 到来
dàolái
The English word 'advent' can be translated into Chinese as 到來 / 到来 (dàolái), 出現 / 出现 or 來臨 / 来临.
Meaning: coming, arrival (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 到來 / 到来 | dàolái |
| 出現 / 出现 | chūxiàn |
| 來臨 / 来临 | láilín |
In a formal or written context, 到來 / 到来 is the most common way to express the advent of a new era, age or technology. Related terms for the season before Christmas include 將臨期 / 将临期, 降臨節 / 降临节 and 待降節 / 待降节.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 到來 / 到来 is composed of 到, meaning 'to arrive' and 來, meaning 'to come'.
Which one should you use?
While 到來 / 到来 focuses on the arrival of a time or era, 出現 / 出现 focuses on the physical appearance or emergence of something or someone. 來臨 / 来临 is often used for the imminent approach of an event or a period of time, such as the arrival of spring or a storm.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 降臨 / 降临 is a formal or religious term used specifically for the advent or descent of a deity or a divine presence.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
dàolái
Did you know?
- While 降臨 is used for the 'advent' of a deity, the character 降 can also mean 'to surrender' or 'to descend'. This creates a linguistic link between divine arrival and a lowering of status or position.
- The term 降臨 / 降临 is so spiritually charged that using it for a mundane arrival, like a delivery, would sound unintentionally poetic or even mockingly grand.
- When describing the arrival of a person, using 到來 / 到来 can make the person sound like a historical figure or a force of nature rather than a human being.
Examples in context
- 新年的降临带来了新的希望和机会。The advent of the New Year brings new hopes and opportunities.
- 春天的到来使得新芽出现在树枝上。The arrival of spring makes new buds emerge on branches.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “advent” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
