出
chū
In Chinese, 'come out' is translated as 出 (chū). If unsure, use 出. Wiktionary also lists 出來 / 出来 (chūlái).
Meaning: to exit (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 出 | chū |
| 出來 / 出来 | chūlái |
The verb 出 means to exit. For the specific idiom meaning to 'come out of the closet' regarding LGBTQ+ identity, the term 出柜 is used.
Which one should you use?
The form 出来 is used specifically when the person exiting is moving toward the speaker's location. In contrast, if the person is exiting a space to move away from the speaker, you should use 出去.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can indicate that the action of coming out has been completed or that a new state has been reached by adding the particle 了 after 出来, forming 出来了.
How do you pronounce it?
chū
Did you know?
- The character 出 was originally drawn as a foot stepping out of a cave, which is a visual way of describing the act of exiting.
- Adding the particle 了 to 出来了 doesn't just signal a completed action but can indicate a sudden change in state, such as a baby being born.
- The phrase 出柜 meaning 'to come out of the closet' is a direct loan translation from English.
Examples in context
- 出来，我需要帮助。Come out here. I need help.The sentence using 出 is useful for requesting someone to come out when help is needed.Tatoeba #9958163 by GlossaMatik, translation #3162187 by CK
- 他们约好一起向家人出柜。They both agreed to come out of the closet to their family.The sentence using 出 shows the idiomatic way to talk about coming out of the closet to family.Tatoeba #10028105 by GlossaMatik, translation #11295079 by Aphima
- 出来。Come out.The sentence using 出 is a simple command to come out.Tatoeba #9953351 by GlossaMatik, translation #8915876 by deniko
- 我想让大家出来参加会议。I want everyone to come out and participate in the meeting.
- 终于又见到你了，你怎么这么晚才出来啦？Finally, see you again! Why did you come out so late?
- 天气这么好，出去吧！The weather is so nice, let's go out!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Wei is calling Yuting to come out of the house.
- 伟 Wei雨婷，快出家门吧！Yǔtíng, kuài chū jiāmén ba!Yuting, come out of the house quickly!
- 雨婷 Yuting我马上就出去了。Wǒ mǎshàng jiù chūqù le.I'm coming out right now.
- 伟 Wei你快点出，车快到了。Nǐ kuài diǎn chū, chē kuài dào le.Come out faster, the car is almost here.
- 雨婷 Yuting好的，我出来了。Hǎo de, wǒ chūlái le.Okay, I'm out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “come out” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 出, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
