# てくる: come to; do and come back > Learn how to use てくる, a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar point meaning come to; do and come back, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N4 · Updated: 2026-05-17 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n4-te-kuru/ **てくる** means **come to; do and come back**. It is a **JLPT N4** Japanese grammar pattern used to express movement toward the speaker, returning after an action, or a change of state that reaches the present. This grammar point appears constantly in everyday conversation, textbook dialogs, and JLPT N4 reading and listening material. If you want to describe actions that come toward you or changes that creep up over time, **てくる** is one of the most useful auxiliary patterns to internalize. ## What does てくる mean? Use **てくる** when you want to express **come to; do and come back** in a Japanese sentence. Natural translations include: - come to; do and come back - come to - do and come back The pattern covers three overlapping ideas: an action performed away from the speaker followed by a return, a gradual change that reaches the present, and physical movement directed toward the speaker. Because the same form handles all three, context is everything. The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer's or speaker's purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context. ## How to form てくる Verb (て-form) + くる Examples of the pattern: - 買ってくる - 走ってくる - 分かってくる The form before the grammar point is always the te-form. In JLPT questions, distractors often use the plain form or the ta-form before the auxiliary, so check the stem carefully. ## When is てくる used? Use **てくる** in situations like: - describing an action done away from the speaker followed by a return - expressing a gradual change that reaches the present moment - narrating physical movement directed toward the speaker or the current topic Tone and register: - neutral; common in both casual conversation and polite writing - ubiquitous in daily Japanese, textbook dialogs, and JLPT N4 listening - rarely stiff or literary; even beginners encounter it in phrases like 行ってきます ## てくる example sentences - ちょっと水を買ってきます。 — I will go buy some water and come back. - 寒くなってきました。 — It has started to get cold. - 日本語が少し分かってきました。 — I have started to understand Japanese a little. - 友達が走ってきました。 — My friend came running. - 宿題をしてきました。 — I did the homework before coming here. After reading each sentence, ask what job **てくる** is doing: a round-trip, a gradual change, or movement toward the speaker. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation. ## Nuance of てくる The key nuance is **come to; do and come back in context**, not a word-for-word English replacement. This matters because **てくる** often changes the relationship between actions, people, time, or evidence in the sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation. For example: - In 寒くなってきました, the grammar signals a process that has been building and is now noticeable. - In 宿題をしてきました, it frames the homework as completed before arriving at the current location. - In 友達が走ってきました, it simply marks motion toward the speaker. Compared with basic N5 patterns, adding **てくる** layers directional or temporal information onto the main verb. ## てくる vs ていく Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs. **てくる**: - is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson - focuses on **come to; do and come back** **ていく**: - is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms - may change the tone, evidence, direction, or relationship in the sentence Quick contrast examples: - Target pattern: ちょっと水を買ってきます。 — I will go buy some water and come back. - Related pattern with **ていく**: compare what changes in evidence, timing, direction, or politeness. If both patterns seem possible, check the direction of the action. Is it coming toward the speaker or moving away? The tone and context often tell you which grammar point is natural. ## Common mistakes with てくる Watch out for these mistakes: - Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context - Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form before the auxiliary - Confusing **てくる** with **ていく** because the English can sound similar A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with **てくる**, then rewrite it with **ていく**. If the meaning or direction changes, explain that difference in your own words. ## Is てくる on the JLPT? Yes. **てくる** is commonly taught as **JLPT N4** grammar. That means learners should be able to: - recognize it in reading and listening - understand its nuance in context - use it in simple original sentences For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning. ## Practice questions for てくる Try making your own sentences with these prompts: - Write one short sentence using the basic structure. - Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point. - Compare your sentence with the related pattern above. Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear. ## Learning path for てくる Use **てくる** as part of your **JLPT N4** te-form action-flow and auxiliary verb grammar toolkit. Review the main te-form action first, then ask what the auxiliary adds: preparation, trial, completion, regret, movement, continuation, or a change over time. Build short verb chains before using longer sentences. A good review order is: first make one short sentence with **てくる**, then compare it with [ていく](/blog/n4-te-iku/), and finally add [てみる](/blog/n4-te-miru/) or [ておく](/blog/n4-te-oku/) to see how the nuance changes. For practice, write one sentence that uses **てくる** in its most literal meaning, one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one sentence that contrasts it with one of the related patterns below. ## Related grammar to review next - [ていく](/blog/n4-te-iku/) — compares another te-form auxiliary that changes action flow or completion. - [てみる](/blog/n4-te-miru/) — compares another te-form auxiliary that changes action flow or completion. - [ておく](/blog/n4-te-oku/) — compares another te-form auxiliary that changes action flow or completion. - [てしまう](/blog/n4-te-shimau/) — compares another te-form auxiliary that changes action flow or completion. ## Learn てくる with Hane If you want to review **てくる** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N4 grammar lessons](/blog/n4/)