Master ていく and てくる in Japanese. Learn how these directional auxiliaries express movement, change, and continuation.
•8 min read
Reviewed by GyanMirai Editorial Team•Last reviewed 2025-02-13
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Grammar Comparison JLPT N4 JLPT N4
ていくvsてくる
ていく vs てくる: Japanese Directional Verbs Complete Guide
Master ていく and てくる in Japanese. Learn how to express actions moving away or toward, changes over time, and sequential actions with clear examples.
Read time: 8 min readSearches: 1,000+ monthlyUpdated: February 17, 2026
Understanding the difference between ていく (te iku) andてくる (te kuru) is one of the most important distinctions in Japanese grammar. This comprehensive guide will help you master when and how to use each one correctly.
Grammar Point A
ていく (te iku)
Go doing / Continue into the future / Move away while doing
Expresses action moving AWAY from the speaker, action continuing into the future, or gradual change progressing forward. The direction is outward/forward.
Formation: Verb て-form + いく (行く)
Grammar Point B
てくる (te kuru)
Come doing / Up until now / Move toward while doing
Expresses action moving TOWARD the speaker, action continuing from the past to present, or sudden change/emergence. The direction is inward/here.
Formation: Verb て-form + くる (来る)
Quick Comparison Table
Aspect
ていく
てくる
Meaning
Go doing / Continue into the future / Move away while doing
Come doing / Up until now / Move toward while doing
Usage
Expresses action moving AWAY from the speaker, action continuing into the future, or gradual change progressing forward. The direction is outward/forward.
Expresses action moving TOWARD the speaker, action continuing from the past to present, or sudden change/emergence. The direction is inward/here.
Formation
Verb て-form + いく (行く)
Verb て-form + くる (来る)
JLPT Level
N4
N4
Direction
Away from speaker
Toward speaker
Time flow
From now → future
From past → now
With 持つ
持っていく = take
持ってくる = bring
Change nuance
Gradual progression forward
Emergence / becoming apparent
Speaker involvement
Observing / intending
Experiencing / affected
JLPT Level
N4
N4
Key Differences
1
Physical Direction: ていく = moving AWAY from the reference point (usually the speaker). てくる = moving TOWARD the reference point. 持っていく (take something away) vs 持ってくる (bring something here).
2
Time Direction: ていく = continuing into the FUTURE (from now onward). てくる = continuing from the PAST until now. これからも頑張っていく (will keep working hard) vs 今まで頑張ってきた (have been working hard until now).
3
Change Over Time: ていく = gradual change progressing forward. てくる = change that has emerged or become apparent. 暗くなっていく (getting darker) vs 暗くなってきた (has gotten dark / started getting dark).
4
Speaker's Position: The speaker is the reference point. ていく moves away from 'here', てくる moves toward 'here'. This applies both spatially and temporally.
5
Emotional Nuance: てくる often implies personal experience or emotional involvement (something is affecting me). ていく often implies observation or intention (watching something happen or planning to do something).
When to Use Which?
Follow this decision guide to choose the right grammar point.
Yes
Yes
Use ていく
No
Use てくる
No
Yes
Use てくる
No
Use ていく
Examples with Explanations
ていく
お弁当を持っていきます。
Obentou wo motte ikimasu.
I'll take a lunch box (with me).
Tip: 持っていく means to take something away from the current location. The bento moves away with the speaker.
Context: Leaving home with a packed lunch
てくる
お土産を持ってきました。
Omiyage wo motte kimashita.
I brought souvenirs.
Tip: 持ってくる means to bring something toward the current location. The souvenirs were brought here.
Context: Arriving somewhere with gifts
ていく
これからも日本語を勉強していきます。
Kore kara mo nihongo wo benkyou shite ikimasu.
I will continue studying Japanese from now on.
Tip: ていく shows the action will continue into the future (from now, going forward).
Context: Expressing future commitment
てくる
今まで日本語を勉強してきました。
Ima made nihongo wo benkyou shite kimashita.
I have been studying Japanese until now.
Tip: てきた shows the action has continued from the past up to the present moment.
Context: Describing past efforts that led to now
ていく
だんだん暖かくなっていく。
Dandan atatakaku natte iku.
It's gradually getting warmer.
Tip: ていく expresses a gradual change continuing into the future. The warmth will increase.
Context: Observing seasonal change progressing
てくる
急に寒くなってきた。
Kyuu ni samuku natte kita.
It suddenly got cold. / It's started getting cold.
Tip: てきた expresses a change that has emerged or become noticeable to the speaker now.
Context: Noticing a sudden weather change
ていく
子供たちが走っていった。
Kodomotachi ga hashitte itta.
The children ran off (away from here).
Tip: 走っていく means running away from the speaker's location. The children are moving away.
Context: Watching children run into the distance
てくる
子供たちが走ってきた。
Kodomotachi ga hashitte kita.
The children came running (toward here).
Tip: 走ってくる means running toward the speaker's location. The children are approaching.
Context: Children running toward you
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1Using ていく for 'bring here'
Correction: Use てくる when bringing something toward the current location
持っていく = take away. 持ってくる = bring here. Direction matters!
Wrong: パーティーにワインを持っていってください。(at the party) -- Please take wine to the party (wrong direction)
Correct: パーティーにワインを持ってきてください。 -- Please bring wine to the party (correct)
Mistake #2Using てくる for future continuation
Correction: Use ていく for actions continuing into the future
Wrong: これからも頑張ってくる。 -- Will have been working hard (time direction wrong)
Correct: これからも頑張っていく。 -- Will keep working hard (correct future direction)
Mistake #3Confusing physical and temporal uses
Correction: Both can be physical direction OR time flow — context determines meaning
飛んでいく can mean 'fly away' (spatial) or 'time flies' (temporal). Context is key.
Wrong: Always interpreting literally -- Time physically goes somewhere
Correct: 時間が経っていく (time passes/goes by — temporal, not physical) -- Time flows forward (abstract temporal use)
Mistake #4Forgetting the direction with 連れる (to take/bring a person)
Correction: 連れていく = take someone, 連れてくる = bring someone
When taking or bringing people, the same ていく/てくる logic applies.
Wrong: 子供を連れてきます (when leaving with the child) -- I'll bring my child (when leaving = wrong)
Correct: 子供を連れていきます。 -- I'll take my child (with me when leaving)
Memory Tips
Tip 1
いく = Away, くる = Here
Think of the base verbs: 行く (to go) moves away, 来る (to come) moves here. ていく/てくる follow the same direction.
Example: 飛んでいく (fly away) vs 飛んでくる (fly here)
Tip 2
Time Arrow
ていく points forward (→ future). てくる points backward to now (past → now). Imagine a timeline arrow.
Example: これから〜ていく (from now onward) vs 今まで〜てきた (until now)
Tip 3
Bring vs Take Rule
If you're AT the destination: てくる (bring here). If you're LEAVING: ていく (take away).
Example: At party: 持ってきて (bring it). At home leaving: 持っていく (take it).
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice questions. Click on your answer to see if you are correct.
0 / 6 answered
Q1
お土産を___ね。楽しみにしています。
Bring souvenirs, okay? I'm looking forward to it.
Q2
これからも努力し___つもりです。
I intend to keep making efforts from now on.
Q3
今まで色々な経験をし___。
I've had various experiences until now.
Q4
鳥が飛んで___。
The bird flew away.
Q5
だんだん日本語が分かる___。
I've gradually come to understand Japanese.
Q6
友達を連れて___いいですか？
Is it okay if I bring a friend?
Frequently Asked Questions
Context! If there's physical movement (birds flying, people walking), it's likely spatial. If discussing changes, experiences, or time periods (今まで, これから), it's likely temporal. Sometimes both apply: 暗くなっていく could be watching darkness spread (spatial) or anticipating evening coming (temporal).
Yes, with なる! 寒くなっていく (getting colder, will continue to get colder), 寒くなってきた (has gotten cold, change emerged). The adjective + なる becomes the verb that takes ていく/てくる.
You can combine with しまう for completion/regret nuance. 忘れていってしまう (will completely forget, going forward). 疲れてきてしまった (have completely become tired, up to now). The directional meaning stays the same.
Yes: ていきます/てきます, ていった/てきた become ていきました/てきました. Example: 持っていきます (I'll take it - polite), 持ってきました (I brought it - polite past).
Completely different! てくる shows direction/change toward now. てある shows resultative state (something was done intentionally). 窓を開けてきた (came after opening window / opened on the way) vs 窓が開けてある (window has been left open intentionally).
Summary
Use ていく when...
Expresses action moving AWAY from the speaker, action continuing into the future, or gradual change progressing forward. The direction is outward/forward.
Use てくる when...
Expresses action moving TOWARD the speaker, action continuing from the past to present, or sudden change/emergence. The direction is inward/here.
Pro Tip: The best way to master the difference is through reading and listening practice. Pay attention to how native speakers use these grammar points in context.
