come by

基本释义

come by 的核心含义是“获得”，尤其指通过努力或偶然得到某物。本义是“经过”，即从某处经过或路过，引申为“顺便拜访”，再引申为“得到”，因为得到某物往往需要“经过”某个过程或手段。常见义项有：1) 得到，获得（常指不易得到的东西）；2) 经过，路过；3) 顺便拜访。其中“得到”是最常用的含义，如“Jobs are hard to come by.”（工作很难找。）引申关系清晰：从空间上的“经过”到时间上的“顺便拜访”，再到抽象层面的“获得”。

构词与来源

come 源自古英语 cuman，意为“来，到达”，by 源自古英语 bī，意为“在旁边，经过”。两者组合成短语动词，字面意思为“从旁边来”，即“经过”，后引申为“得到”。记忆时可联想：你要得到某物，必须先“经过”它，或“来到”它旁边。

常见语境

come by 在口语和书面语中均常见。日常口语中，常用来表示“拜访”，如“Why don't you come by for a drink?”（何不过来喝一杯？）；也表示“得到”，如“How did you come by that rare book?”（你怎么弄到那本珍本书的？）。新闻报道中，多用于“获得”义，如“Funding is hard to come by for startups.”（初创企业难以获得资金。）文学作品中也常见，尤其是“come by”的“经过”义，如“We came by a beautiful lake.”（我们经过一个美丽的湖。）整体语气中性，但“得到”义有时暗含“来之不易”。

语法提示

come by 作“经过”和“拜访”时是不及物动词短语，后接地点时需加介词（如 come by the office）；作“得到”时是及物动词短语，后接宾语（如 come by a ticket）。注意：被动语态常见，如“Good jobs are hard to come by.”。易错点：不要与“come across”（偶然遇见）混淆；“come by”的“拜访”通常指短暂顺访，而非正式拜访。

同义词区别

come by 与 obtain, acquire, get 近义，但更口语化，且强调“通过努力或偶然”得到。acquire 更正式，常指长期获得；obtain 较正式，用于书面语；get 最通用。例如：He obtained a visa.（他获得了签证。）比较正式；He got a ticket.（他弄到一张票。）口语；He came by a ticket through a friend.（他通过朋友弄到一张票。）强调途径。与 drop by 相比，come by 更常用，drop by 更随意。

常见误区

come by 语域中性，口语和书面语均可使用，无特定褒贬，但“come by money”可能暗示钱来路不正，需谨慎。常见误用：将“come by”和“come across”混淆，前者是“得到/拜访”，后者是“偶然遇见”。另外，作“拜访”时，不要与“come over”混淆，后者更强调“过来”的动作。

搭配用法

• come by something
• come by to see someone
• hard to come by
• come by chance
• come by honestly
• come by car
• come by train

实用例句

How did you come by that vintage guitar?

I came by your house yesterday, but you weren't in.

Good jobs are hard to come by in this economy.

She came by the office to pick up the documents.

He came by his wealth through hard work.

We came by a small village on our way to the coast.