JLPT N4Auxiliary

Furigana

てくるCome toward or develop up to now

てくる presents an action or change as moving toward the speaker's reference point. That movement may be physical, or it may be a development extending from the past up to now.

One viewpoint behind three uses

The key idea is movement toward a reference point. Someone can go somewhere, do something, and return here; something can physically approach the speaker; or a change can develop from an earlier time until now. The English translation changes, but the Japanese viewpoint stays consistent.

Go, do something, and return

ちょっとコンビニで飲のみ物ものを買かってきます。

I'll go buy some drinks at the convenience store and come back.

The speaker leaves the current place, buys the drinks, and returns to the same reference point.

A common conversational use

A

コーヒーがないね。

We're out of coffee.

B

じゃ、近ちかくの店みせで買かってくる。

Then I'll go buy some nearby and come back.

In casual conversation, the return is often understood from the situation rather than stated separately.

Physical movement toward the observer

子こどもが校こう庭ていからこちらへ走はしってきた。

A child ran over here from the schoolyard.

The child's movement ends near the speaker or observer.

Development or activity up to now

For a time-based reading, give an earlier starting point or enough history to show a path leading to the present.

朝あさから気き温おんが少すこしずつ上あがってきた。

The temperature has been rising little by little since this morning.

The rise began earlier this morning and has continued toward the present moment.

私わたしは大だい学がくに入はいってから、ずっと環かん境きょう問もん題だいを研けん究きゅうしてきました。

I have been researching environmental issues ever since I entered university.

This presents the research as accumulated activity extending to the present.

Toward now versus onward from now

てくる looks back along a path that reaches the reference point. By contrast, ていく looks away from that point or forward into what will happen next.

この町まちは十じゅう年ねん前まえから少すこしずつ変かわってきた。

This town has gradually changed over the past ten years.

The change extends from ten years ago up to now.

この町まちはこれからも変かわっていくだろう。

This town will probably continue to change from now on.

This is the opposite-direction pattern: the change is projected onward from now.

More examples

ちょっと郵ゆう便びん局きょくへ行いってきます。

I'm going to the post office and will be back.

先せん生せいが廊ろう下かから教きょう室しつに入はいってきました。

The teacher came into the classroom from the hallway.

遠とおくから音おん楽がくが聞きこえてきた。

Music came drifting from far away.

ここ数すう年ねん、この町まちでは外がい国こく人じん観かん光こう客きゃくが増ふえてきました。

In the past few years, the number of international tourists in this town has been increasing.

私わたしは子こどものころから毎まい日にち絵えを描かいてきた。

I have drawn pictures every day since I was a child.

雨あめがだんだん強つよくなってきた。

The rain has gradually been getting heavier.

会かい議ぎが始はじまる前まえに、資し料りょうをコピーしてきます。

Before the meeting starts, I'll go make copies of the materials and come back.

てくる (tekuru) – Come toward or develop up to now