来ます

The Japanese verb 来ます (kimasu) is one of the most fundamental words in the language, yet it holds a specific directional logic that differs significantly from the English verb 'to come'. At its core, 来ます describes movement toward the speaker's current location or toward the speaker's perspective. Unlike English, where you might say 'I am coming to your house' while you are still at home, in Japanese, you cannot use 来ます for that situation because you are moving away from your current spot. You would use ikimasu (to go) instead. This distinction is vital for achieving natural fluency.

Directional Focus

Movement is always toward the speaker's current location or a place the speaker identifies with (like their home or office).

Beyond physical movement, 来ます is used for the arrival of time, seasons, or abstract concepts. When the mail arrives, you use 来ます. When spring arrives, you use 来ます. It also functions as an auxiliary verb in the form 〜て来ます (~te kimasu), indicating that an action started in the past and continues to the present, or that someone went somewhere to do something and is now returning. This 'return' aspect is a uniquely Japanese way of framing actions like 'going to buy milk and coming back'.

Temporal Usage

Used when seasons or scheduled events approach the present moment.

In a social context, 来ます is the polite (teineigo) form of the dictionary verb 来る (kuru). It is safe to use with teachers, strangers, and colleagues. However, in very formal situations, such as business or talking to royalty, it is replaced by honorifics like いらっしゃいます or humble forms like 参ります. Understanding these layers of politeness is key to navigating Japanese society. Even at the A2 level, mastering the basic 来ます allows you to describe daily arrivals and the approach of future events with confidence. It is a 'high-mileage' verb that appears in almost every conversation, from simple greetings to complex narrative descriptions of changes over time.

Abstract Arrival

Used for ideas, news, or feelings that 'come' to one's mind or attention.

Using 来ます (kimasu) correctly involves understanding particle markers and the physical perspective of the sentence. The most common particles used with 来ます are に (ni) and へ (e), which both indicate the destination. While they are often interchangeable, に emphasizes the arrival at a specific point, whereas へ focuses on the direction of travel toward that point.

Basic Structure

[Subject/Topic] + [Destination] + に/へ + 来ます.

Another crucial pattern is the 'purpose of coming' construction. This uses the stem of another verb followed by に and then 来ます. For example, if you come to someone's house to study, you take the verb 勉強します (benkyou-shimasu), remove ます, and add に来ます. This creates 勉強しに来ます (come to study). This is a highly productive pattern in everyday speech. Additionally, 来ます is used with the て-form of verbs to show a movement toward the speaker while performing an action, such as 持って来ます (motte kimasu), which means 'to bring' (literally: holding and coming).

Purpose Pattern

[Verb Stem] + に + 来ます (Coming to do something).

When discussing the weather or natural phenomena, 来ます is used for things that move toward the observer. A storm 'comes', a breeze 'comes', and even a smell 'comes' (nioi ga shite kimasu). It is also used in the potential form 来られます (koraremasu) to say 'can come', which is often used in invitations. For example, 'Can you come to the party?' would be パーティーに来られますか？. Note that in casual speech, the potential form is often shortened to 来れる (koreru), though 来られます is the standard polite version. Finally, the volitional form 来ましょう (kimashou) means 'let's come' or 'I shall come'.

Te-form Auxiliary

Verb-te + 来ます indicates a change starting and continuing to the present.

In Japan, you will hear 来ます (kimasu) and its variants in a multitude of daily scenarios. One of the most common places is the train station. Announcements often state 電車が参ります (Densha ga mairimasu), which is the humble form of 来ます, but passengers on the platform will say to each other, あ、電車が来た！ (Ah, densha ga kita!) using the casual past form. In the service industry, いらっしゃいませ (Irasshaimase) is the standard greeting to customers, which is a highly polite imperative of the honorific version of 'to come'.

Public Spaces

Stations, bus stops, and airports use 'kimasu' or its polite variants to announce arrivals.

At home, the concept of 'coming' is embedded in the standard greeting ただいま (Tadaima), which is a shortened version of 'I have just now returned'. When someone arrives at your door, you say よく来ましたね (Yoku kimashita ne) to welcome them. In the office, a colleague might tell you that a delivery has arrived by saying 荷物が来ました (Nimotsu ga kimashita). It is also used frequently in phone conversations when checking if someone is on their way: 今から来られますか？ (Can you come now?).

Daily Socializing

Welcoming guests, checking on friends' arrival, and announcing your own return.

In media like anime or drama, you'll often hear characters shout 来たー！ (Kitaaa!) when something they were waiting for finally happens—whether it's an enemy appearing, a package arriving, or a moment of realization. This casual past tense captures the excitement of arrival. Conversely, in news reports, the verb is used more formally to describe seasonal changes or the approach of natural events like typhoons: 台風が近づいて来ます (A typhoon is approaching). Note how 来ます adds a sense of immediacy and physical proximity to the report.

Media & News

Used for typhoon warnings, seasonal forecasts, and dramatic character entrances.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with 来ます (kimasu) is the 'I'm coming' error. In English, if a friend calls and asks you to come to their party, you say 'I'm coming!'. In Japanese, if you say 今行きます (Ima kimasu), it sounds like you are already at the party and are approaching the person you are talking to. Instead, you MUST say 今行きます (Ima ikimasu), which literally means 'I am going now'. Remember: 来ます is strictly movement toward the speaker's current location.

The Perspective Trap

Incorrectly using 'kimasu' for your own movement toward someone else's location.

Another common error involves the conjugation of this irregular verb. Many students mistakenly say kimasen (correct) but then try to use kurimasu or koshimasu for other forms. The root changes between ki (polite), ku (dictionary), and ko (negative/casual). For example, the casual negative is 来ない (konai), not kinai. These vowel shifts are the hallmark of Group 3 verbs and require dedicated practice to master.

Conjugation Errors

Mixing up the 'ki-', 'ku-', and 'ko-' sounds in different verb forms.

Lastly, learners often forget the 'come and do' vs 'go and do' distinction. If you go to the store and return, you use 買って来ます (katte kimasu). If you go to the store and stay there or move further away, you use 買って行きます (katte ikimasu). Using kimasu in this auxiliary sense implies a return to the current 'base' or origin point. Misusing this can lead to confusion about your intended destination or whether you plan to return soon. Always visualize the physical 'anchor' of the conversation—where is the speaker right now? That is the target for 来ます.

Auxiliary Confusion

Failing to include 'kimasu' when an action involves returning to the starting point.

While 来ます (kimasu) is the standard polite way to say 'come', Japanese offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific context of the arrival. Understanding these synonyms helps you sound more natural and respectful in different social hierarchies. The most common distinctions are between neutral, humble, and honorific forms.

参ります (Mairimasu)

The humble form (kenjougo). Use this when YOU or someone in your 'in-group' is coming to a place of a superior. It lowers your own status to show respect.

On the other end of the spectrum is いらっしゃる (irassharu) or おいでになる (oide ni naru). These are honorific forms (sonkeigo) used when a superior, like a boss or a customer, is coming. You would never use these for yourself. Using kimasu for a CEO might be slightly too casual in a traditional Japanese company, so いらっしゃいます is preferred. Another interesting word is 訪れる (otozureru), which means 'to visit' or 'to arrive' in a more literary or formal sense, often used for seasons or visiting famous landmarks.

いらっしゃいます (Irasshaimasu)

The honorific form. Use this when a guest, teacher, or boss is coming to your location.

There are also specific verbs for 'coming' in certain contexts. 届く (todoku) is used when a package or letter 'reaches' you. 着く (tsuku) means 'to arrive' at a destination. While kimasu focuses on the movement toward the speaker, tsuku focuses on the completion of the journey. For example, 'The train is coming' is densha ga kimasu, but 'The train arrived at the station' is densha ga eki ni tsukimashita. Finally, 戻る (modoru) means 'to return' or 'come back', which is more specific than the general kimasu.

Comparison Table

• 来ます (Kimasu): Standard polite 'come'.
• 参ります (Mairimasu): Humble 'come' (used for oneself).
• いらっしゃいます (Irasshaimasu): Honorific 'come' (used for others).
• 着きます (Tsukimasu): To arrive at a spot.