くる

くる Japanese Grammar Lesson

Grammar Type: Irregular Verb

Essential Meaning: To Come

Construction: Irregular Verb

Notes:

• くる (来くる in kanji) is generally used to describe a movement in the direction of the speaker’s physical location. It is analogous to the English verb “To come“. However, the speaker can also place his or her “emotional viewpoint” in a place where he or she isn’t physically present. For example, the speaker may place her emotional viewpoint at a place where she feels a strong sense of empathy and emotional-connectedness. Or, she may place her emotional viewpoint somewhere just for the sake of friendly conversation.
  • E.g. 田中たなかさんが明日あしたうちへくる。[Ms. Tanaka is coming to my house tomorrow.] This is a typical use of 来くる that represents a movement towards the speaker’s physical location.
  • E.g. 家内かないが来きたらすぐ帰かえるように言いってください。[If my wife comes by, please tell her to come home right away.] In this case, the speaker is placing his “emotional viewpoint” at the hearer’s house, so 来くる represents a movement towards the speakers emotional viewpoint rather than towards his physical location. In English, we might say “If my wife comes by” because it sounds more natural and friendly than saying “If my wife goes to your house“. The same principle applies in Japanese.

• The opposite of くる is いく, which expresses a movement away from the speakers physical location or emotional viewpoint.

Example Sentences:

ナンシーは昨日きのうパーティーに来きましたか。[Did Nancy come to the party yesterday?]

来週らいしゅう木口きぐちさんが名古屋なごやに来くるそうだ。[I heard that Mr. Kiguchi is coming to Nagoya next week.]

今日きょうはまだ新聞しんぶんが来こない。[The newspaper hasn’t come yet today.]

僕ぼくの研究室けんきゅうしつに明日あした来きてください。[Please come to my laboratory tomorrow.]

WILD Examples:

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