The character "来" (lái) in Chinese means "to come" or "to arrive." It is commonly used in various contexts, such as indicating movement towards the speaker or a specific location. For example, one might say "来这里" (lái zhèlǐ), meaning "come here." In addition to its literal meaning, "来" can also express future actions or intentions. For instance, "我来帮你" (wǒ lái bāng nǐ) translates to "I will come to help you." This versatility makes "来" an essential part of everyday conversation in Mandarin Chinese.