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
差し掛かる
さしかかる (sashikakaru)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "come" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 〜てくる and 差し掛かる.
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, 差し掛かる (さしかかる (sashikakaru)) maps to "to come to (a place), to approach, to be on the verge of" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents ある場所や時間、段階に近づくことや、そこに着くことを表します。物理的な場所だけでなく、時期や年齢にも使われます。. 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 "差し掛かる"
列車はまもなく駅に差し掛かるだろう。
The train will soon approach the station.
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.". "差し掛かる" represents "to come to (a place), to approach, to be on the verge of".