来自【láizì】

来自 + place means "come from". It takes the place directly, with no 从. It is a touch more formal than everyday speech – at home in self-introductions, news and written descriptions.

In conversation, 我是英国人 or 我是从英国来的 is more common. 来自 is what you'd say when introducing yourself to a room.

Before a noun

来自 + place + 的 describes a noun: "visitors from Shanghai".

Not only places

The source can be a person, a book or an experience.

Where it goes wrong

来自 already contains "from". Adding 从 doubles it.

• × 我从来自英国 → 我来自英国 / 我从英国来
• × 我来自从北京 → 我来自北京