Quintuple VS
Synonym Boundary: "来ます", "来る", "迎えに来る", "叶う", "〜てくる"
All represent the core concept "come", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
来ます
きます (kimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
来る
くる (kuru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
迎えに来る
むかえにくる (mukae ni kuru)
N4 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
叶う
かなう (kanau)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option E
〜てくる
〜てくる (te kuru)
N3 / CEFR
Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "come" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "来ます", "来る", "迎えに来る", "叶う", "〜てくる" based on context.
- 来ます (きます (kimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to come (polite form)" and is used when Polite form of 来る.
- 来る (くる (kuru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to come" and is used when Used for movement towards the speaker's location or a specified location. Polite form is 来ます.
- 迎えに来る (むかえにくる (mukae ni kuru) - Level: N4): Maps to "to come to pick up (someone)" and is used when Used when someone comes to a location with the purpose of picking up another person. The particle に indicates purpose. The related phrase 迎えに行く.
- 叶う (かなう (kanau) - Level: N3): Maps to "to come true, to be granted (wish, dream)" and is used when Used exclusively for wishes, dreams, hopes, or prayers being realized or fulfilled. It's the opposite of 夢が破れる.
- 〜てくる (〜てくる (te kuru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to come doing; to start doing; to become (up to now)" and is used when 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..
Context for "来ます"
友達が家に来ます。
My friend comes to my house.
Context for "来る"
明日、彼が家に来ます。
He will come to my house tomorrow.
Context for "迎えに来る"
友達が駅まで私を迎えに来てくれました。
My friend came to pick me up at the station.
Context for "叶う"
いつか海外で働くという夢が叶いました。
My dream of working overseas finally came true.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "友達が家に ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "My friend comes to my house.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "来ます" is correct here because it represents "to come (polite form)" in the context: "My friend comes to my house.".