Japanese verbs have conjugations.「来る」is a verb and means “come.” We will teach you the conjugation in this page. You can also learn example sentences using verb conjugations. The kanji「来」has different readings, so please pay attention to them.
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When you do not know how to use the conjugation, please learn about it in our conversation lessons or our mail support. In our mail support, we check your Japanese every time. If you have an internet connection and a PC/smartphone, you can learn Japanese with us all over the world.
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Vocabulary Video
Before you learn the conjugations, please learn about the pronunciation of the verb in dictionary and polite forms.
Video: Coming soon
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Dictionary Form/ます Form
As you know, English tenses are roughly divided into present, future, and past tenses. However, it is said that Japanese tenses consist only of “Past Tense” and “Non-Past Tense.” Therefore, we used “Dictionary Form,” not “Present Tense” in this heading.
Japanese people use two types of language. One is “non-honorific language” and the other is “honorific language.” When we focus on these languages, “dictionary” and “plain” forms are in “non-honorific language.” “Polite form” is in honorific language.
English Meaning: come, will come
「辞書形 (dictionary form)」is the original form. The technical term is for non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, native Japanese usually do not know the word.「ます形 (ます form)」is the polite form of a dictionary form. The term is also for non-native Japanese speakers.
| Positive | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| Dictionary & Plain Form | 来る | kuru |
| Polite Form | 来ます | kimasu |
My mother comes to my house every day.
毎日母が家に来る。(Plain Form)
毎日母が家に来ます。(Polite Form)
My American friend is going to come to Japan next year.
来年アメリカの友達が日本に来る。(Plain Form)
来年アメリカの友達が日本に来ます。(Polite Form)
English Meaning: do not come, will not come
| Negative | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| Plain Form | 来ない | konai |
| Polite Form | 来ません | kimasen |
Yoshida-kun doesn’t always come to school.
いつも吉田君は学校に来ない。(Plain Form)
いつも吉田君は学校に来ません。(Polite Form)
My girlfriend won’t come to the party tomorrow.
明日彼女はパーティに来ない。(Plain Form)
明日彼女はパーティに来ません。(Polite Form)
Past Tense
English Meaning: came
The plain form is in “た form”. “た form” is also a technical term for non-native Japanese speakers. Therefore, native Japanese usually do not know the word.
| Positive | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| た & Plain Form | 来た | kita |
| Polite Form | 来ました | kimashita |
My grandfather came to my home.
祖父が家に来た。(Plain Form)
祖父が家に来ました。(Polite Form)
English Meaning: did not come
| Negative | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| Plain Form | 来なかった | konakatta |
| Polite Form | 来ませんでした | kimasen deshita |
Fukuda-san didn’t come.
福田さんは来なかった。(Plain Form)
福田さんは来ませんでした。(Plain Form)
て Form
English Meaning: N/A
We cannot know the exact meaning without knowing the sentence and situation.
| Conjugation | Romaji Reading | |
| て Form | 来て | kite |
About the phrases「ている」and「ています」: Here
About the phrase「～てください。」: Here
I always come to this shop and buy pork.
いつもこの店に来て豚肉を買います。(Polite Form)
In this case,「て」means “and.”
Volitional Form 1: Will, (Own) Intention, Determination
English Meaning: will come
| Conjugation | Romaji Reading | |
| Plain Form | 来よう | koyō |
| Polite Form | N/A | N/A |
This phrase is used only in plain form. This is because we use it when we talk to ourselves or think in our minds. When we talk or think to ourselves, we usually do not use the polite form.
I’ll come to this shop again. (Will)
またこの店に来よう。(Plain Form)
Volitional Form 2: Solicitation, Intention, Invitation
English Meaning: let’s come
| Conjugation | Romaji Reading | |
| Plain Form | 来よう | koyō |
| Polite Form | 来ましょう | kimashō |
Let’s come to this shop again.
またこの店に来よう。(Plain Form)
またこの店に来ましょう。(Polite Form)
Potential
English Meaning: can come/be able to come
| Positive | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| Plain Form | 来られる | koreru |
| Polite Form | 来られます | koremasu |
I can come by car.
車で来られる。(Plain Form)
車で来られます。(Polite Form)
English Meaning: cannot come/not able to come
| Negative | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| Plain Form | 来られない | korarenai |
| Polite Form | 来られません | koraremasen |
I cannot come by car.
車で来られない。(Plain Form)
車で来られません。(Polite Form)
Imperative Form
English Meaning: come (order, command)
| Conjugation | Romaji Reading | |
| Plain Form | 来い | koi |
Come to our school!
学校に来い。
“Imperative form” is used only in plain form and this phrase often becomes rude depending on the situation. Please show us your Japanese when you use it. We will checks and teach suitable Japanese.
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Prohibition and Order
English Meaning: Do not go!
| Conjugation | Romaji Reading | |
| Plain Form | 来るな | kuruna |
Don’t come here!
ここに来るな。(Plain Form)
Conditional Form
English Meaning: if (subject) go
| Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| 来れば | kureba |
If I come here, I can meet that person.
ここに来れば、あの人に会えます。(Polite Form)
Hypothetical/Definite Conditions, Sequence of Actions
English Meanings: if/when ~ come, ~ came and ~
This form「～たら」has some usages. There are many meanings except for the above meanings. More explanations are in our conversation lessons or mail support.
| Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| 来たら | kitara |
This is the example sentence that「たら」indicates “sequence of actions.”
I came here and I could met my younger sister.
ここに来たら妹と会えました。
Causative Form
English Meaning: make/let/have (person) come
| Positive | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| Plain Form | 来させる | kosaseru |
| Polite Form | 来させます | kosasemasu |
I’ll make my father come here.
ここに父を来させる。(Plain Form)
ここに父を来させます。(Polite Form)
English Meaning: do not make/let/have (person) come
| Negative | Conjugation | Romaji Reading |
| Plain Form | 来させない | kosasenai |
| Polite Form | 来させません | kosasemasen |
I won’t make my younger sister come here.
ここに妹を来させない。 (Plain Form)
ここに妹を来させません。(Polite Form)
To Learn Correct Verb Conjugations
Japanese verb conjugation is too complicated and there are many learners who use it incorrectly. Therefore, we provide lessons and services where we teach and correct your Japanese daily. If you want to know more about the details, please check out our website.
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