Explanation of "你来自哪里" in Chinese:

"你来自哪里" is a common question used to ask about someone’s origin or hometown, equivalent to "Where are you from?" in English. Let’s break it down:

你 (Nǐ)

Meaning "you" (second-person singular/plural, informal), used to address the person being asked.

来自 (Lái zì)

A phrasal verb meaning "to come from," combining 来 (lái, to come) and 自 (zì, from). This structure is used to indicate the source or origin of a person, thing, or idea.

哪里 (Nǎ lǐ)

Meaning "where," an interrogative pronoun used to ask for a specific place or location.

Tone and usage:

Neutral and straightforward, suitable for both casual and formal contexts. In formal situations, you may add 请问 (qǐng wèn, may I ask) for politeness: 请问，你来自哪里？ ("May I ask, where are you from?"). When speaking to elders or superiors, it’s common to use 您 (nín, polite "you") instead of 你 (nǐ): 您来自哪里？ ("Where are you from?," politely).

Example responses:

- 我来自中国北京。 ("I’m from Beijing, China.")

- 她来自美国纽约。 ("She’s from New York, USA.")