“〜te kuru”: Gradually Become 〜 / Go and Come Back (change + direction, past→now) [JLPT N4]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“Samuku natte kita” “Motte kimasu” — change up to now, and movement toward the speaker
「日本語が話せるようになってきた」 — 「〜てくる」, change up to now, coming toward here
「最近、日本語が話せるようになってきた」 (lately I've gradually come to speak Japanese) — opposite to 「ていく」, the direction of 「くる (come)」 is toward “here” (now, nearer). 「(verb て-form) ＋ くる」 has two uses: ① change continuing up to now (has gradually ~); ② movement toward here, or go-and-come-back (bring, pop out and return). This guide covers 「てくる」's two directions and separates it from the opposite 「ていく」 (its own guide).
Core: coming toward “here” (now, nearer)
The core of 「てくる」 is the direction of 「くる (come)」 — toward now, toward here:
- ① In time: change continuing “up to now” (has ~): 話せるようになってきた (has gradually come to speak), 寒くなってきた (has gotten cold up to now). Accumulating from the past to now.
- ② In space: toward here, or go-and-come-back: 買ってくる (buy and bring here), 行ってくる (pop out and come back).
Direction: from “the past／there” toward “now／here.”
How to Connect
| Use | Attachment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| change up to now | change verb て-form ＋ くる | 寒くなってくる （it's starting to get cold） |
| bring (here) | transitive て-form ＋ くる | 買ってくる |
| go and come back | motion verb て-form ＋ くる | 行ってくる |
例句解析
- 最近、日本語が話せるようになってきた。(Lately I've gradually come to speak Japanese.) — change up to now
- コーヒーを買ってくるから、待ってて。(I'll go buy a coffee (and come back), so wait.) — bring／go-and-return
- だんだん寒くなってきたね。(It's gradually gotten cold, hasn't it.) — change up to now
- ちょっとトイレに行ってくる。(I'll pop to the restroom (and be back).) — go and come back
- これまで頑張ってきた。(I've worked hard up to now.) — accumulated up to now
⚠️ Where learners slip up
① Direction: てくる = toward here (now/nearer). “Change up to now” = 〜てきた (寒くなってきた = it's gotten cold up to now); “bring here” = 持ってくる. Opposite direction from 「ていく」 (toward the future/afar).
② In time: てくる = from the past “up to now.” 日本語が話せるようになってきた (past→now, has come to speak up to now); vs 「〜ていく」 (now→future, will ~ from now). てくる looks back to now, ていく ahead to the future.
③ 「行ってくる」 = go and come back. 「ちょっと行ってくる (I'll pop out (and be back))」 — stressing “I'll return here.” Japanese people leaving home often say 「行ってきます (I'm off (and will be back))」, answered with 「行ってらっしゃい」 — that's this てくる (go and return).
🔄 Nuance & comparison: てくる／ていく
| Form | Direction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜てくる | toward here (up to now, nearer, bringing) | 寒くなってきた・買ってくる （it's got colder / I'll go buy it and come back） |
| 〜ていく | toward there (future, afar, leaving) | 寒くなっていく・持っていく |
| time axis | past→now | 今まで続けてきた （have kept it up until now） |
💡 How to remember this
For 「てくる」, grasp the direction of 「くる (come)」: toward “here” — now, nearer, returning. Two uses: ① change up to now in time (寒くなってきた = it's gotten cold up to now, できるようになってきた = has gradually become able, looking at “change up to now”); ② toward here／go-and-return in space (買ってくる = buy and bring, 行ってくる = pop out and return). Opposite direction from 「ていく」: てくる looks back to now／inward (寒くなってきた), ていく ahead to the future／outward (寒くなっていく). A very everyday example: leaving home you say 「行ってきます」 (I'm off, and will be back) — that's 「行って (go) ＋ くる (will come back)」. Get the direction right and the pair clicks.
❓ Quick FAQ
Q: How do I tell the time feel of 「〜てきた」 from 「〜ていく」?
「てきた」 = accumulated from the past “up to now” (looking back): これまで頑張ってきた (I've worked hard up to now), 暑くなってきた (it's gotten hot up to now). 「ていく」 = from now toward “the future” (looking ahead): これから暑くなっていく (it'll gradually get hot from now). So 「今まで〜てきた」 (up to now) and 「これから〜ていく」 (from now) are set pairings. Test: looking back to now = てきた, looking ahead = ていく.
Q: What does 「行ってくる」 mean? How does it differ from 「行く」?
「行ってくる」 = go (somewhere) briefly and come back here, stressing “I'll return.” 「ちょっとコンビニに行ってくる」 = I'll pop to the convenience store (and be back). Plain 「行く」 is just “go” (not stressing returning). The Japanese leaving-home greeting 「行ってきます (I'm off)」 is this — literally 「行って (go) ＋ きます (will come back)」, meaning “I'll go and return,” answered with 「行ってらっしゃい (take care/see you)」. So 「てくる」 carries a round-trip “go and return to the starting point” feel.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「最近、日本語が___ようになってきました。」(Gradually becoming able to speak)
(A) 話せる (B) 話した (C) 話す (D) 話して
Q2. 「コーヒーを___から話しましょう。」(Go buy some and come back)
(A) 買ってきて (B) 買ってきた (C) 買ってきます (D) 買ってくる
Q3. Which sentence expresses 'a gradual change up to now (past → present)'?
(A) 暖かくなっていく (B) 暖かくなってきた (C) 暖かくなってある (D) 暖かくなってから
Q4. 「ちょっとトイレに___。」(Be right back)
(A) 行ってある (B) 行ってきます (C) 行ってくれます (D) 行ってもらいます
Q5. 「その荷物、持って___ください。」(Please bring it over)
(A) いって (B) きて (C) してきて (D) ありて
Answer Explanations
1. (A) 話せる ── 「話せるようになってきた」, gradually becoming able to speak, using ようになる + てきた to show gradual change.
2. (D) 買ってくる ── To express 'go buy it and come back,' use 買ってくる (dictionary form); the dictionary form is used before the conjunction から.
3. (B) 暖かくなってきた ── A gradual change from past to present uses てきた (くる). A's ていく expresses a change from present to future.
4. (B) 行ってきます ── The set phrase for 'I'll go for a bit and come back,' extremely common in everyday Japanese.
5. (B) きて ── 「持ってきてください」= please bring it, with the direction of movement toward the speaker.