Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Come" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "come", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
〜てくる
〜てくる (te kuru)
N3 / 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 〜てくる and かなう.
In Japanese, 〜てくる (〜てくる (te kuru)) is typically associated with "to come doing; to start doing; to become (up to now)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Indicates a change or action that progresses from the past up to the present, or an action moving towards the speaker. It suggests a process or continuation that has led to the current state..
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 "〜てくる"
日本に来てから、ずっと日本語を勉強してきました。
Since coming to Japan, I have been studying Japanese continuously.
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: "日本に来てから、ずっと日本語を勉強してきました。" (Meaning: "Since coming to Japan, I have been studying Japanese continuously.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "〜てくる" fits here because it means "to come doing; to start doing; to become (up to now)" in the context of: "Since coming to Japan, I have been studying Japanese continuously.". "かなう" represents "to come true (wish); to be realized (dream); to match; to be equal to".