Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Come" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "come", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
くる
くる (kuru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
かなう
かなう (kanau)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "come" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between くる and かなう.
In Japanese, くる (くる (kuru)) is typically associated with "to come" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Used for movement towards the speaker's current location or a specific point of reference. This is an irregular verb. The polite form is 来ます.
On the other hand, かなう (かなう (kanau)) maps to "to come true (wish); to be realized (dream); to match; to be equal to" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Primarily means for a wish or dream to be fulfilled. A literal translation of "come" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "くる"
友達が家に来ます。
My friend comes to my house.
Bilingual Context for "かなう"
彼の長年の夢がついにかなった。
His long-cherished dream finally came true.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達が家に来ます。" (Meaning: "My friend comes to my house.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "くる" fits here because it means "to come" in the context of: "My friend comes to my house.". "かなう" represents "to come true (wish); to be realized (dream); to match; to be equal to".