〜てくる: Coming To Do, Going & Returning, and Changes Over Time
What it means
〜てくる is the verb くる ("to come") glued onto another verb in its て-form. Because くる carries the idea of movement toward the speaker — toward your location, toward the present moment, toward you as the center of things — that nuance flavors whatever verb comes before it. Depending on context, the same pattern can mean "go and come back," "has gradually become," or "is heading this way." Once you feel the "toward me / toward now" core, all three uses click together.
ヤッタンはパンを買ってくる。
ヤッタンは パンを かってくる。
Yattan will go buy some bread and come back.
買う (buy) + てくる = go do it, then return.
日本語が少し分かってきた。
にほんごが すこし わかってきた。
I've started to understand Japanese a little.
A change that has built up to the present.
雨が降ってきた。
あめが ふってきた。
It's started to rain.
The rain arrives — approaching the speaker.
How to form it
Take the て-form of a verb and add くる. Since くる is irregular, conjugate the くる part for tense and politeness; the front verb stays in て-form.
| Plain verb | て-form | + くる | Polite | Past |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 買う (buy) | 買って | 買ってくる | 買ってきます | 買ってきた |
| 持つ (hold) | 持って | 持ってくる | 持ってきます | 持ってきた |
| なる (become) | なって | なってくる | なってきます | なってきた |
| 降る (fall) | 降って | 降ってくる | 降ってきます | 降ってきた |
The negative is 〜てこない ("won't come / hasn't come to"): 慣れてこない ("I'm not getting used to it"). For the past change-over-time meaning, you will use 〜てきた constantly.
Use 1: go do it and come back
When the front verb is an action you physically leave to perform, 〜てくる says you'll do it and return. This is why 行ってくる is the standard "I'm off!" you say leaving the house — literally "I'll go and come back."
ちょっと飲み物を買ってきます。
ちょっと のみものを かってきます。
I'll just go grab some drinks and come back.
ヤッタン、行ってくる！
ヤッタン、いってくる！
Yattan, I'm heading out (and I'll be back)!
行ってくる — the everyday 'see you later' on the way out.
先生に聞いてくるね。
せんせいに きいてくるね。
I'll go ask the teacher and come right back.
Use 2: a change that has developed up to now
With verbs of change or perception, 〜てきた shows a shift that started earlier and has continued up to the present. Think of the change "traveling toward now." It pairs naturally with なる and adjectives turned into adverbs (寒く, 暑く, 多く).
だんだん寒くなってきた。
だんだん さむく なってきた。
It's gradually gotten cold.
なってきた = the change reached the present moment.
モチは漢字が読めてきた。
モチは かんじが よめてきた。
Mochi has started to be able to read kanji.
A skill building up over time.
この街も人が増えてきました。
このまちも ひとが ふえてきました。
This town has gotten more crowded, too.
To talk about a change that will keep going from now into the future, you switch to 〜ていく instead (more on that below).
Use 3: something approaching you
When something moves toward the speaker in space — or a phenomenon begins and heads your way — 〜てくる captures that arrival. 雨が降ってくる feels like the rain coming down onto you, not just the abstract fact that it rains.
向こうから弟が走ってきた。
むこうから おとうとが はしってきた。
Yattan's brother came running over from over there.
Movement toward the speaker.
急に風が吹いてきた。
きゅうに かぜが ふいてきた。
The wind suddenly picked up.
A phenomenon starting and reaching you.
Contrast: 〜てくる vs 〜ていく
くる ("come") points toward the speaker and the present; いく ("go") points away — off into the distance or off into the future. Swapping one for the other flips the direction:
- 弟が走ってきた = brother ran toward me. 弟が走っていった = brother ran away from me.
- 寒くなってきた = it's gotten cold (up to now). これから寒くなっていく = it'll keep getting colder (from now on).
- 買ってくる = go buy it and come back. 買っていく = buy it and take it along (away with you).
A simple rule of thumb: if the arrow points at you or at now, use てくる; if it points away into the distance or the future, use ていく.
Common mistakes
- Conjugating the front verb instead of くる. Tense and politeness live on くる: 買ってきました (✓), not 買いましてくる.
- Using 〜ていく for a change up to now. "It's gotten cold" is 寒くなってきた (toward now). 寒くなっていく means it will keep getting colder from here.
- Forgetting the "come back" part of Use 1. 買ってくる promises a return; if you're just taking something with you and leaving, that's 買っていく.
- Treating it as one fixed phrase. 〜てくる works with many verbs (持ってくる, 連れてくる, 増えてくる); it isn't limited to 行ってくる.
Quick recap
- 〜てくる = て-form + くる, carrying a "toward me / toward now" feeling.
- Use 1: go do something and come back — 買ってくる, 行ってくる.
- Use 2: a change that has built up to the present — 寒くなってきた.
- Use 3: something approaching you in space or time — 雨が降ってきた.
- Mirror it with 〜ていく for movement away from now or into the future.
Your turn
Choose てくる or ていく, and pick the right meaning of 〜てくる.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 〜てくる and 〜ていく?
くる points toward the speaker and the present, so 〜てくる means 'come back,' 'has become (up to now),' or 'approaching me.' いく points away, so 〜ていく means 'take along and leave' or 'will keep becoming (from now on).' 寒くなってきた = it's gotten cold; 寒くなっていく = it'll keep getting colder.
Does 行ってくる really mean 'goodbye'?
It literally means 'I'll go and come back,' which is exactly what you say leaving home or the office in Japan. The reply is 行ってらっしゃい. It's Use 1 of 〜てくる — go do something (here, just 'go') and return.
How do I conjugate 〜てくる for past or polite?
Change only the くる part: 買ってくる → 買ってきた (past) → 買ってきます (polite) → 買ってきました (polite past). The front verb stays in て-form.
Why does 雨が降ってくる add くる instead of just 雨が降る?
雨が降る is the neutral fact 'it rains.' Adding てくる adds the sense that the rain is starting and coming down toward you right now — it makes the event feel immediate and directed at the speaker.