下来 in 请用中文写下来

[polynickglot]

Hello all, I was looking in a phrase book, and it translated "Could you write that down in Chinese characters?" as 请用中文写下来. I guess my questions are the following:

1) Does 写下 mean to 'write down'?

2) Could you just say "请用中文写" or 请用中文写下?

3) Why is the 来 there?

Thank you!

[andysun731]

写下 may be often used as a transitive verb, followed by the written contents.

写下来 is more like an intransitive verb.

写 can be both transitive and intransitive.

[polynickglot]

Thank you!!