JLPT N4 Grammar (te kuru)

Meaning

to do… and come back; to become; to continue; to start ~

How to use

Verb (て form)くる
きた
きます
きました
te kuru てくる jlpt n4 grammar meaning 文法 例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (te kuru) / (te kimasu). Meaning: to do… and come back; to become, to continue, to start ~.

This can be used to express various meanings.

  • To go do something… and then come back
  • To become~ / to start~
  • To continue to / (express ongoing action

This is used after a verb to express a continued change in state, usually for something that moves toward the speaker (not necessarily a physical movement).

For something that moves away from the speaker, instead use .

How To Use て form:

This grammar requires the use of て form. If you don’t know how to conjugate it, you can reference this table.

If you already know how to use て form, skip down to the examples.

EndingDictionaryChanges to...て form

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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

Click the below red button to toggle off and and on all of the hints, and you can click on the buttons individually to show only the ones you want to see.

Example #1

みえてくる。
miete kuru
To come into view (to start coming into view/ to continue coming into view)
Example #2

あめがふってきた。
ame ga futte kita.
It started raining.
Example #3

もどってきたよ!
modotte kita!
I'm back!
Example #4

おなかがすいてきた。
onaka ga suite kita.
I'm hungry / I'm starting to get hungry.
Example #5

ここまであるいてきました。
koko made aruite kimashita.
I came here by foot.
Example #6

わたしはかれをつれてくる。
watashi wa kare o tsurete kuru.
I will bring him / pick him up.
Example #7

かれはらいしゅうもどってくる。
kare wa raishuu modotte kuru.
He'll be back next week.
Example #8

ちょっとトイレにいってきます。
chotto toire ni itte kimasu.
I'm gonna head to the restroom real quick.
Example #9

クリスさんはまだきていませんね。ちょっとさがしてきます。
kurisu san wa mada kiteimasen ne. chotto sagashite kimasu.
Chris still hasn't come.. I'm gonna go look for him (then come back)
Example #10

ちょっとじどうはんばいきでみずをかってきます。
chotto jidou hanbaiki de mizu o katte kimasu.
I'm gonna go to the vending machine to buy some water (then come back)

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
見えるみえるto be able to see
わたしI
かれhim
連れてくるつれてくるto bring/ to pick up
来週らいしゅうnext week
戻るもどるto return
行くいくto go
自動販売機じどうはんばいきvending machine
買うかうto buy
来るくるto come
探すさがすto search
お腹空いたおなかすいたI'm hungry
雨が降るあめがふるto rain
歩くあるくto walk

View all JLPT N4 Vocabulary Lessons

JLPT N4 vocabulary list

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