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Sentence + 来着 (recalling the recent past)
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What was his name again?
- You met someone at a party last week and can't recall his name.
- him他is called叫what什么name名字to come来(ongoing -ing)着？ — "What was his name again?"
Question + to come来(ongoing -ing)着 = what was it again?
- to come来(ongoing -ing)着 at the end of a sentence asks someone to remind you of something you knew: you你just now刚才said说what什么to come来(ongoing -ing)着？
- It refers to the recent past and is very colloquial.
you你just now刚才said说what什么(again)来着？
Complete: “What did you say just now?” 你刚才说什么____？
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来着 = what was it again?
Statements too
- I我yesterday昨天even还saw看见him他to come来(ongoing -ing)着。 — "I saw him only yesterday, I'm sure."
- In statements it recalls a recent event as a reminder or confirmation.
I我yesterday昨天even还saw看见him他(I recall)来着。
Build: “I saw him only yesterday.”
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Statement + 来着 recalls the recent past.
Recent past, spoken only
- to come来(ongoing -ing)着 is for things in the recent past; it cannot describe the future.
- Keep it out of formal writing; him他said说what什么to come来(ongoing -ing)着 is the basic form, and (completed / change)了 may also appear (him他said说(completed / change)了what什么to come来(ongoing -ing)着) depending on the sentence.
来着 suits formal writing.
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False. 来着 is colloquial and belongs in conversation. In formal writing you would simply ask 他叫什么名字？ or restate the information.
Versus a plain question
- him他is called叫what什么name名字？ asks for new information.
- him他is called叫what什么name名字to come来(ongoing -ing)着？ admits you knew it and have forgotten.
he他is called叫what什么name名字？
What does 他叫什么名字来着？ suggest?
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来着 at the end of a question shows that the speaker once knew the answer but has forgotten it: 他叫什么名字来着？ “What was his name again?”
Recap
- Question + to come来(ongoing -ing)着 = what was it again? (asking to be reminded).
- Colloquial recollection of an earlier situation. Whether (completed / change)了 also appears depends on the complete sentence; do not use a blanket ban.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Auxiliary words.
You met someone at a party last week and can't recall his name. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.