Explanation

Used to express the continuation, progression, or change of a state or action. It indicates that an action has been carried out up until the present moment or will continue into the future.

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Key Formation

• Verb (て-form) + くる

  食べてくる (Eat and come back)

• Verb of Change (て-form) + くる

  変わってくる (Change and come)

Example Sentences

• 毎日日本語を勉強してきました。

  I have been studying Japanese every day.

  まいにち にほんご を べんきょう してきました。

  Mainichi nihongo o benkyou shitekimashita.

  Pronunciation

• 彼は昨日から風邪をひいてきています。

  He caught a cold since yesterday (and still has it).

  かれはきのうからかぜをひいてきています。

  Kare wa kinou kara kaze o hiitekiteimasu.

  Pronunciation

• この町に来てから、たくさんの友達を作ってきました。

  Since coming to this town, I have made many friends.

  このまちにきてから、たくさんのともだちをつくってきました。

  Kono machi ni kite kara, takusan no tomodachi o tsukuttekimashita.

  Pronunciation

• 日本に来た時、日本の文化に興味を持ってきました。 (Inspired by personal experience)

  When I came to Japan, I developed an interest in Japanese culture.

  にほんにきたとき、にほんのぶんかにきょうみをもってきました。

  Nihon ni kita toki, Nihon no bunka ni kyōmi o mottekimashita.

  Pronunciation

• 友達と一緒に旅行してきました。

  I have been traveling with my friends.

  ともだちといっしょにりょこうしてきました。

  Tomodachi to issho ni ryokō shitekimashita.

  Pronunciation

Usage Notes

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

Related Grammar, and what's the difference?

• ていく (teiku) - (N4)
  - Both てくる (tekuru) and ていく (teiku) are used to express the continuation or progression of an action. However, てくる (tekuru) emphasizes the action moving or changing towards the speaker, while ていく (teiku) emphasizes the action moving or changing away from the speaker.
• ている (teiru) - (N5)
  - While both てくる (tekuru) and ている (teiru) are used to convey the continuation of an action, てくる (tekuru) emphasizes the progression of an action up until the present moment, while ている (teiru) focuses on the current state resulting from the action.
• なくなる (nakunaru) - (N4)
  - なくなる (nakunaru) is used to express the disappearance or depletion of something over time, whereas てくる (tekuru) indicates the continuation or change of an action up until the present moment.
• ようになる (you ni naru) - (N4)
  - Both てくる (tekuru) and ようになる (you ni naru) imply a change or progression. However, てくる (tekuru) indicates the action or state has been carried out up until the present moment, while ようになる (you ni naru) emphasizes the resulting change or ability that one has acquired.

Useful Vocabulary that appeared in this page

• * 毎日 (まいにち)every dayPronunciation
• * 勉強 (べんきょう)studyPronunciation
• * 昨日 (きのう)yesterdayPronunciation
• * 風邪 (かぜ)coldPronunciation
• * この (この)thisPronunciation
• * 町 (まち)townPronunciation
• * 友達 (ともだち)friendPronunciation
• * 作る (つくる)makePronunciation
• * 来る (くる)comePronunciation
• * 時 (とき)whenPronunciation
• * 文化 (ぶんか)culturePronunciation
• * 興味 (きょうみ)interestPronunciation
• * 住む (すむ)livePronunciation
• * 友達 (ともだち)friendPronunciation
• * 一緒 (いっしょ)togetherPronunciation
• * 旅行 (りょこう)travelPronunciation

Quiz

What does the following sentence mean? 彼はアメリカに住んできました。

• He came to live in America.
• He used to live in America.
• He has been living in America (and still does).