〜てくる te kuru

〜てくる（te kuru）means “go and come back (do something and return)”. Attach くる to the て-form to show that the speaker goes somewhere, does the action, and then comes back. Formation: V-て + くる

go and come back (do something and return)

N4

Formation

V-て + くる

Explanation

Attach くる to the て-form to show that the speaker goes somewhere, does the action, and then comes back. The whole round trip is implied: you leave the current place, carry out the verb, and return.

Examples

ちょっとコンビニで みずをかってくるね。
ちょっとコンビニで みずをかってくるね。
I'll just go buy some water at the convenience store (and come back).
ちょっとてをあらってくるから、まっていて。
ちょっとてをあらってくるから、まっていて。
I'll go wash my hands and come right back, so wait for me.

Note

〜てくる also has other uses (gradual change toward now, appearance); here it means the 'go and return' sense. Contrast 〜ていく (do and go away).

FAQ

〜てくる — what does it mean and how is it used?

go and come back (do something and return). Attach くる to the て-form to show that the speaker goes somewhere, does the action, and then comes back. The whole round trip is implied: you leave the current place, carry out the verb, and return.

〜てくる — how do you form it?

V-て + くる

〜てくる — any usage notes?

〜てくる also has other uses (gradual change toward now, appearance); here it means the 'go and return' sense. Contrast 〜ていく (do and go away).

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