“〜te kuru vs 〜te iku”: Directional Sense [JLPT N4]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
「寒くなってきた」vs「寒くなっていく」 — the time direction of action/change (toward the present vs toward the future).
“〜te kuru vs 〜te iku”: Directional Sense
「(verb te-form) ＋ くる／いく」 shows the direction of an action or change, the two being opposite: 〜てくる = direction toward the speaker/the present (approaching, coming back, from the past to the present): 「雨が降ってきた」 (it's started to rain → from none to some, toward the present), 「寒くなってきた」 (it's gotten cold → a change from past to present); 〜ていく = direction away from the speaker/toward the future (leaving, moving forward, continuing into the future): 「走っていった」 (ran off → away), 「便利になっていく」 (will keep getting more convenient → present to future). ⚠️ Three main uses: ① spatial movement (come/go), ② temporal change (past→present/present→future), ③ appearance/disappearance. ⚠️ Connection: verb te-form ＋ くる/いく.
🧠 Core nuance: てくる toward me/the present; ていく away from me/the future
The core is the direction of an action/change: toward (てくる) or away (ていく): ① 〜てくる — direction toward the speaker, approaching, from past to present (歩いてくる = walk toward me, 買ってくる = go buy (and come back), 雨が降ってきた = started raining toward the present, 寒くなってきた = got cold from past to present, 見えてきた = gradually come into view); ② 〜ていく — direction away from the speaker, leaving, from present to future, continuing (歩いていく = walk off that way, 持っていく = take along, 消えていく = gradually disappear, 便利になっていく = keep getting more convenient toward the future). ⚠️ Three main uses: ① spatial movement (てくる = come/approach; ていく = go/away); ② temporal change (てきた = a change from past to present: 暖かくなってきた; ていく = present to future: 良くなっていく); ③ appearance/disappearance (出てくる = appear/toward; 消えていく = disappear/away). ⚠️ Core contrast: 寒くなってきた (past→present, already gotten cold, felt) vs 寒くなっていく (present→future, will keep getting colder)! The time-axis direction is opposite. ⚠️ Connection: verb te-form ＋ くる/いく. An important N4 pattern for directional sense.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Direction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜てくる | toward me/present (approach, past→present) | 雨が降ってきた |
| 〜ていく | away from me/future (leave, present→future) | 便利になっていく |
| (spatial) | てくる=come; ていく=go | 走ってくる/走っていく |
💬 Example Sentences
- 最近、だんだん暖かくなってきた。(Lately it's gradually gotten warmer. ← past to present, already felt) — time (past→present)
- これから少しずつ上手になっていくだろう。(From now I'll gradually get better. ← present to future) — time (present→future)
- 急に雨が降ってきたね。(It suddenly started raining. ← from none to some, toward the present) — appearance
- 彼は何も言わずに走っていった。(He ran off without saying anything. ← away) — spatial (away)
- お弁当を買ってくるね。(I'll go buy a bento (and come back). ← go and return) — spatial (come)
🔄 Compare: てくる vs ていく (directional comparison)
| Expression | Direction/Time | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜てくる(spatial) | toward me, approach, come | 歩いてくる |
| 〜ていく(spatial) | away from me, leave, go | 歩いていく |
| 〜てきた(time) | a change from past→present (already happened) | 寒くなってきた |
| 〜ていく(time) | a change from present→future (will continue) | 寒くなっていく |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- てくる vs ていく opposite directions: てくる = toward me/past→present; ていく = away from me/present→future.
- Time axis: てきた = past to present (already changed); ていく = present to future (will continue) — don't confuse.
- Spatial movement: 買ってくる = go buy and come back (toward me); 買っていく = buy and take along (away).
- Attaches to the te-form: verb te-form ＋ くる/いく (降ってきた, なっていく).
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「てくる／ていく」 show the direction of an action or change, the two being opposite: てくる = toward the speaker/present (approach, come back, past→present: 雨が降ってきた, 寒くなってきた); ていく = away from the speaker/future (leave, move forward, present→future: 走っていった, 便利になっていく). Three main uses: spatial movement, temporal change, appearance/disappearance. ⚠️ The time axis is most tested: てきた (past→present) vs ていく (present→future). A must for N4 directional sense.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N4 core: てくる = toward me/present (approach, past→present); ていく = away from me/future (leave, present→future).
- Time axis most tested: てきた (past→present, already changed: 暖かくなってきた) vs ていく (present→future, will continue: 暖かくなっていく).
- Three main uses: spatial movement (come/go), temporal change, appearance/disappearance; attaches to the verb te-form.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「最近暖かく___た。」(it's gradually gotten warm — past to present)
(A) なってき (B) なってい (C) なりき (D) なっておい
Q2. 「これから少しずつ上手になって___だろう。」(will get better — present to future)
(A) いく (B) くる (C) きた (D) おく
Q3. What's the difference between 「寒くなってきた」 and 「寒くなっていく」?
(A) identical
(B) てきた = change from past to present; ていく = change from present to future (prediction)
(C) てきた is positive; ていく is negative
(D) only the connection differs
Q4. What does 「雨が降ってきた」 mean?
(A) the rain stopped
(B) it's started to rain (from none to some, approaching now)
(C) it'll rain later
(D) it rained all day
Q5. In 「走っていった」, what does 「いく」 mean?
(A) ran here (toward the speaker)
(B) ran off (away from the speaker, leaving)
(C) waited while running
(D) started running
Answer Key
1. (A) なってき ── 暖かくなってきた = has gradually become warm (past → present).
2. (A) いく ── なっていく = will become (present → future).
3. (B) ── てきた = change from past to present; ていく = change from present to future.
4. (B) ── 降ってきた = it's started to rain (from none to some, approaching now).
5. (B) ── ていく = moving away from the speaker: 走っていった = ran off.
The Three Uses at a Glance
| Use | 〜てくる | 〜ていく |
|---|---|---|
| Spatial movement | come / approach (買ってくる = go buy and return) | go / away (持っていく = take along) |
| Temporal change | past → present (寒くなってきた) | present → future (寒くなっていく) |
| Appearance / disappearance | appear (出てくる) | disappear (消えていく) |
Common Mistakes (Quick Reference)
| Mistake | Issue | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| 暖かくなっていく (when you already feel it) | you already sense the change → use くる | 暖かくなってきた |
| 弁当を買っていきました (to mean "bring back") | that means "buy and take away"; for "bring back" | 弁当を買ってきました |