〜てくる
JLPT N4:come (to) / start to
Adds movement toward the speaker, in space or in time: "go and come back", "come (doing)", or a change that has built up to now.
How to form it
- Put the verb in the て-form and add くる. くる conjugates like 来る and is usually written in hiragana.
- Going to do something and coming back: コンビニで買ってきます (I'll just pop to the shop and buy it).
- Movement toward the speaker: 犬が走ってきた (a dog came running).
- A change that has developed up to now, or has just begun: だんだん暖かくなってきました (it's gradually got warmer), 雨が降ってきた (it's started to rain).
Examples
だんだん暖かくなってきました。
It's gradually got warmer.
コンビニでお弁当を買ってきます。
I'll go and get a packed lunch from the convenience store.
Similar meaning
- 〜ていくgo on / go (doing)
Movement away from the speaker, or a change that continues from now on.