…来着
what was it again? (recalling something); it was … (as I recall)
Structure
疑问句 + 来着 ？ ／ 陈述句 + 来着
What it means
A spoken sentence-final word. In a question it asks for something you once knew but have forgotten (“what was it again?”); in a statement it recalls a recent past event.
How it is built
Question + 来着, with the question word in place: 你刚才说几点出发来着？ (what time did you say we were leaving?). Statement + 来着: 我刚才还看见他来着 (I saw him only just now).
When to use it
When you are trying to remember (那部电影叫什么名字来着？), or to back up what you say with something that just happened. Spoken only, and more northern.
Watch out
It takes the place of 了 and 过 rather than joining them, and it is not used with 没 or 不: ✗我没看见他来着 ✓我没看见他.
Examples
那部电影叫什么名字来着？就在嘴边，可就是想不起来。
What was that film called again? It’s on the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t think of it.
你刚才说几点出发来着？
What time did you say we were leaving?
我昨天还给他打电话来着，他什么也没说。
I was on the phone to him only yesterday, and he didn’t say a thing.
Learn this in Lesson 131 · HSK 7–9: 消失的老物件 (Things that disappeared)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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