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
思い付く
おもいつく (omoitsuku)
B2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "come" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 〜てくる and 思い付く.
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, 思い付く (おもいつく (omoitsuku)) maps to "come up with, think of" (Syllabus Level: B2) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus.. 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 "思い付く"
私は思い付くに興味があります。
I am interested in come up with, think of.
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.". "思い付く" represents "come up with, think of".