“To come” in Japanese is 来る (くる), pronounced kuru.
Pronunciation
The word has 2 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To come, one of only two irregular verbs. Its forms change the first sound: きます, こない, きた.
Example sentences
- 友達がうちに来ます。ともだちがうちにきます。A friend is coming to my place.
- 日本に来てよかったです。にほんにきてよかったです。I’m glad I came to Japan.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 来る. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 来る くる | come |
| Polite present | きます | come |
| Polite negative | きません | don’t come |
| Polite past | きました | past of “come” |
| Plain negative (ない) | こない | don’t come (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | きた | past of “come” (casual) |
| て-form | きて | come and… / please come (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | きたい | want to come |
Quick practice
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Related words: Everyday verbs
FAQ
How do you say to come in Japanese?
To come in Japanese is 来る (くる), pronounced “kuru”.
How do you write to come in Japanese?
It's written 来る with kanji, or くる in hiragana. Both are read kuru.
Is 来る on the JLPT?
Yes. 来る (kuru) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.