Meaning
Shows movement toward the speaker or a change that started earlier and is becoming noticeable now.
Formation
- て form + くる — 買ってきます
- Motion towards the speaker, or a change that reached the present
When to use it
- Core use
- Coming toward now, up to the present
Examples
20 sentences-
ちょっとパンを買ってきます
I will go buy some bread and come back.
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外が寒いので上着を取ってきます
It is cold outside, so I will go get my jacket and come back.
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空がだんだん暗くなってきました
The sky has gradually become dark.
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最近日本語のニュースも少し分かってきました
Recently I have started to understand Japanese news a little too.
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山の上から冷たい風が吹いてきました
A cold wind has started blowing down from the mountains.
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毎日声に出して読んでいたら日本語のリズムが少しずつ分かってきました
After reading aloud every day, I gradually started to understand the rhythm of Japanese.
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雨が降りそうなので傘を取ってきます
It looks like rain, so I will go get an umbrella and come back.
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店の中から焼きたてのパンのにおいがしてきました
The smell of freshly baked bread came from inside the shop.
12 more examples
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朝日が出て空気が暖かくなってきました
The sun rose, and the air has begun to warm up.
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名前を呼ぶと子どもが笑いながら走ってきました
When I called, the child came running toward me with a smile.
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だんだん冬に向かって寒くなってきました
It has gradually been getting colder toward winter.
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だんだんこの町の人口が増えてきました
This town's population has gradually been increasing.
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だんだん日本語が上手になってきました
My Japanese has gradually been getting better.
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だんだん新しい仕事に慣れてきました
I have gradually been getting used to the new job.
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だんだん生活が便利になってきました
Life has gradually become more convenient.
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だんだん音が小さくなってきました
The sound has gradually been getting quieter.
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だんだん町の様子が変わってきました
The look of the town has gradually been changing.
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だんだん古い家が減ってきました
The number of old houses has gradually been decreasing.
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だんだん技術が進歩してきました
Technology has gradually been advancing.
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だんだん空が明るくなってきました
The sky has gradually been getting brighter.
Important notes
- てくる can express movement toward the speaker or a change developing up to the reference point.
Common mistakes
- 買ってくる includes returning with the purchase; 買いに行く only states going to buy.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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