Kuru is the Japanese verb for ‘to come’, explained

What does “kuru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kuru” to mean ‘to come’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this verb as it is quite often used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “kuru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “kuru”
  • Example #1: how to say “come” in Japanese
• Konai: the nai form of “kuru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t come” in Japanese
• Koyou: the volitional form of “kuru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s come” in Japanese
• Kimasu: the masu form of “kuru”
  • Example #4: how to say “come” politely in Japanese
• Kita: the ta form of “kuru”
  • Example #5: how to say “came” in Japanese
• Kite: the te form of “kuru”
  • Example #6: how to say “come and” in Japanese
• Kureba: the ba form of “kuru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if come” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “kuru”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kuru”.

• kuru – 来る (くる) : a verb meaning ‘to come’ in Japanese.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “come” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kare – 彼 (かれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘he’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kare” to make the subject in the sentence.
• itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
• aruki – 歩き (あるき) : the noun form of the verb, “aruku“, which means ‘to walk’ in Japanese.
• de – で : a case particle used to say what means or method someone uses to do something. In the example, this is used after “aruki” to say what means “kare” uses to come to school, how he comes to school.
• gakkou – 学校 (がっこう) : a noun meaning ‘school’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say where someone or something goes. In the example, this is used after “gakkou” to say where “kare” comes.

This is a typical usage of “kuru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “ni”, to have the object. This usage is worth knowing, I think. When we want to mean ‘to come’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.

In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “kuru”. The first one is “konai”.

Konai: the nai form of “kuru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “konai”.

• konai – 来ない (こない) : the nai form of “kuru”, which means ‘not to come’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “konai” consists of the following two parts:

• ko – 来 (こ) : one conjugation of “kuru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “konai” is literally the nai form of “kuru” and means ‘not to come’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t come” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its plural form, “kanojo tachi”, which means ‘they’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “konai”. When we want to mean ‘not to come’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Koyou: the volitional form of “kuru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “koyou”.

• koyou – 来よう (こよう) : the volitional form of “kuru”, which expresses volition to come.

Grammatically, “koyou” consists of the following two parts:

• ko – 来 (こ) : one conjugation of “kuru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
• you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “koyou” is literally the volitional form of “kuru” and expresses volition to come. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s come” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• rainen – 来年 (らいねん) : a noun meaning ‘next year’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence to say “next year”.
• mata – また : an adverb meaning ‘again’ in Japanese.
• koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘here’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “koyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s come” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Kimasu: the masu form of “kuru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kimasu”.

• kimasu – 来ます (きます) : the masu form of “kuru”, which means ‘to come’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• ki – 来 (き) : one conjugation of “kuru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kimasu” is literally the masu form of “kuru” and means ‘to come’ politely in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “come” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : an adverb meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese.
• mori – 森 (もり) : a noun meaning ‘forest’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “come” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.

Kita: the ta form of “kuru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kita”.

• kita – 来た (きた) : the ta form of “kuru”, which means ‘came’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kita” consists of the following two parts:

• ki – 来 (き) : one conjugation of “kuru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kita” is literally the ta form of “kuru” and means ‘came’ in Japanese. Let me explain its usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “came” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kareshi – 彼氏 (かれし) : a noun meaning ‘boyfriend’ in Japanese.
• to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone does something. In the example, this is use after “kareshi” to say with whom she came to the beach.
• hamabe – 浜辺 (はまべ) : a noun meaning ‘beach’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kita”. When we want to say “came” in Japanese, this ta form is a good option.

Kite: the te form of “kuru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kite”.

• kite – 来て (きて) : the te form of “kuru”, which means ‘to come’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kite” consists of the following two parts:

• ki – 来 (き) : one conjugation of “kuru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kite” is literally the te form of “kuru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kite” is very useful when we want to use “kuru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “come and” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.
• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “hamabe” to say “this beach” in Japanese.
• neru – 寝る (ねる) : a verb meaning ‘to sleep’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kite”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “neru”. When we want to use “kuru” in front of another verb, its te form is very useful.

Kureba: the ba form of “kuru”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kureba”.

• kureba – 来れば (くれば) : the ba form of “kuru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to come’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kureba” consists of the following two parts:

• kure – 来れ (くれ) : one conjugation of “kuru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kureba” is literally the ba form of “kuru”. In Japanese, ba-formed words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kureba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to come’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if come” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tokyo – 東京 (とうきょう) : a noun meaning ‘Tokyo’ in Japanese.
• an’nai shi – 案内し (あんないし) : one conjugation of the verb, “an’nai suru”, which means ‘to guide’, ‘to show around’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.

This is a typical usage of “kureba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “tokyo ni kureba”, which means ‘if you come to tokyo’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to come’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained “kuru” and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kuru – 来る (くる) : a verb meaning ‘to come’ in Japanese.
• konai – 来ない (こない) : the nai form of “kuru”, which means ‘not to come’ in Japanese.
• koyou – 来よう (こよう) : the volitional form of “kuru”, which expresses volition to come.
• kimasu – 来ます (きます) : the masu form of “kuru”, which means ‘to come’ politely in Japanese.
• kita – 来た (きた) : the ta form of “kuru”, which means ‘came’ in Japanese.
• kite – 来て (きて) : the te form of “kuru”, which means ‘to come’ in Japanese.
• kureba – 来れば (くれば) : the ba form of “kuru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to come’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.