JLPT N4 Grammar – The Complete Guide to “〜てくる” and “〜ていく” ②

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜てくる” and “〜ていく”
2. Various Uses of “〜てくる” and “〜ていく”
3. ③ Change
4. ④ Appearance of Change
5. ⑤ Continuation
6. Summary
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment

Q: What’s the difference between “〜てくる” and “〜ていく”? I don’t really understand how to use them.

A:These two expressions have nine different meanings and uses.
In this series, we’ll explain them step by step so you can learn to use each one correctly.
Although they may look similar, there are clear rules for when to use “〜てくる” and when to use “〜ていく.”
We’ll introduce each usage with simple explanations, example sentences, and illustrations.
Let’s deepen your understanding little by little and learn to use them naturally.

Various Uses of “〜てくる” and “〜ていく”

First, let’s get a general idea of how these two expressions are used differently.

Meanings	てくる	ていく	Examples
① Go and return	○	×	昼ひるご飯はんを食たべてくるよ。 I’ll go eat lunch and come back.
② Sequential actions	○	○	先生せんせいに許可きょかをもらってきてください。 Please get permission from the teacher and come back. トムさんの家いえへ行いくときに、ワインを買かっていきましょう。 Let’s buy some wine when we go to Tom’s house.
③ Change	○	○	半袖はんそでを着きる人ひとが増ふえてきました。 More people have started wearing short sleeves. 季節きせつは春はるから夏なつへと変かわっていきます。 The season is changing from spring to summer.
④ Appearance of change	○	×	だんだん眠ねむくなってきました。 I’m gradually getting sleepy.
⑤ Continuation	○	○	これまで小しょう学校がっこうの教師きょうしとして働はたらいてきました。 I’ve been working as an elementary school teacher. これからもみんなで頑張がんばっていきましょう！ Let’s keep doing our best together!
⑥ State of movement	○	○	今日きょうはお弁当べんとうを持もってきました。 I brought a bento today. 明日あしたのパーティーに妻つまも連つれていきます。 I’ll bring my wife to tomorrow’s party.
⑦ Direction	○	○	ボールがこちらへ飛とんできました。 A ball came flying this way. 鳥とりが山やまへ飛とんでいきます。 A bird flew off toward the mountain.
⑧ Approach/Departure from speaker	○	○	たくさんの人ひとが電車でんしゃから降おりてきます。 Many people are getting off the train. 生徒せいとが教室きょうしつから出でていきました。 The students left the classroom.
⑨ Approach to speaker	○	×	素敵すてきな音楽おんがくが聞きこえてきます。 I hear some beautiful music. なにかあまいにおいがしてきますよ。 Something sweet is in the air.

③ Change

It expresses change up to the present.
On the other hand, “〜ていく” shows change that moves from the present toward the future.

[Commonly used verbs (that express change)]
増ふえる(increase)・減へる(decrease)・上あがる(rise)・下さがる(fall)・慣なれる(get used to)・変かわる(change)・ become (adjective + なる), etc.

[Commonly used adverbs]
だんだん(gradually)・少すこしずつ(little by little)・次第しだいに(eventually)・徐々じょじょに(step by step)・ますます(more and more), etc.

[Examples]
メルボルンの人口じんこうは、どんどん増ふえてきました。(Past → Present)
The population of Melbourne has been steadily increasing.
⇒ This indicates that the population has gradually increased from the past up to the present.

メルボルンの人口じんこうは、どんどん増ふえていきます。(Present → Future)
The population of Melbourne will continue to grow steadily.
⇒ This shows that the population will gradually increase from now into the future.

先月せんげつは暑あつかったのに、だんだん涼すずしくなってきましたね。
It was hot last month, but it’s been getting cooler little by little, hasn’t it?

この作家さっかはまだ若わかいし、ますます人気にんきになっていくでしょう。
This author is still young and will likely become more and more popular.

④ Appearance of Change

This form is used to express the appearance or beginning of a change that occurs naturally, without the speaker’s intention.
It is often used for changes in physical condition, emotions, or natural phenomena.
In this usage, the “〜ていく” form is not used—only “〜てくる” applies.

[Common expressions]
Physical changes: (body parts) 痛いたい(hurt), 眠ねむい(feel sleepy)
Emotions: 悲かなしい(feel sad), 楽たのしい(feel happy), 好すき(like), 嫌きらい(dislike), いらいらする(feel irritated), 不安ふあん(feel anxious)
Natural phenomena: （雨あめ・雪ゆきが）降ふる(it starts to rain/snow), （涙なみだ・怒いかりが）出でる(tears or anger come out), etc.
*When used with adjectives, the change is expressed using the form “〜なる” (to become).

[Examples]
食たべすぎて、お腹なかが痛いたくなってきました。
I ate too much, and now my stomach is starting to hurt.

初はじめはつまらないと思おもっていましたが、だんだん楽たのしくなってきました。
At first, I thought it was boring, but it gradually became fun.

さっきまで晴はれていたのに、急きゅうに雨あめが降ふってきました。
It was sunny just a moment ago, but suddenly it started to rain.

⑤ Continuation

Both “〜てくる” (especially in the form “〜てきた”) and “〜ていく” express temporal continuation.
“〜てくる” is used to show that something has continued from the past up to the present, often focusing on achievements or experiences from the speaker’s perspective.
On the other hand, “〜ていく” expresses that something will continue from the present into the future, and is often used when the speaker wants to emphasize intention or planning.

[Commonly used verbs]
続つづける(continue), 努力どりょくする(make an effort), 働はたらく／勤つとめる(work / be employed), 勉強べんきょうする／学まなぶ(study / learn), etc.

[Commonly used adverbs]
ずっと(continuously), これまで(until now), 今いままで(so far), これから（も）(from now on), 今度こんど(next time), etc.

[Examples]
この問題もんだいについて、1年ねんも考かんがえ続つづけてきました。(Past → Present)
I’ve been thinking about this issue for a whole year.

これからも、私わたしたちはこの問題もんだいについて考かんがえ続つづけていきます。(Present → Future)
We will continue thinking about this issue from now on.

これまで努力どりょくしてきたことは、決けっしてむだではないはずです。
The efforts we’ve made so far are surely not in vain.

この活動かつどうを、もっと世界せかいへ広ひろげていきましょう。
Let’s continue spreading this activity more widely across the world.

Summary

③, ④, and ⑤ do not express physical movement from one place to another.

[③ Change]

• Describes gradual change over time.
• “〜てくる” shows change from the past to the present from the speaker’s perspective.
• “〜ていく” shows change from the present toward the future.

[④ Appearance of Change]

• Describes the natural appearance or beginning of a change that occurs independently of the speaker’s intention.
• Common with physical conditions, emotional shifts, and natural phenomena.
• In this usage, “〜ていく” is not used.

[⑤ Continuation]

• Both “〜てくる” (especially in the form “〜てきた”) and “〜ていく” indicate temporal continuation.
• “〜てくる” refers to actions or states that have continued from the past up to the present, often emphasizing achievements or experiences.
• “〜ていく” describes actions or states that will continue from the present into the future, and is often used to express intention or plans.

Similer Articles

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