目錄
When 「買っていく」 and 「買ってくる」 are translated into Chinese, they often end up as little more than “go buy” or “buy and bring back.” In actual conversation, however, the difference lies in where you go after buying something. 「友だちの家にケーキを買っていく」 means buying a cake and then taking it directly to a friend’s house, while 「水を買ってくる」 means going out to buy water and then returning to the original location. Both sentences involve buying something, but the routes are different. If you look at your current location, the destination, and whether there is a return trip, you do not have to memorize 「〜ていく／〜てくる」 solely through Chinese translations.
How do you distinguish Japanese 「〜ていく／〜てくる」? Start with the direction of movement
「〜ていく／〜てくる」 is a supplementary-verb construction formed by attaching 「いく／くる」 to the て-form of a verb. It does more than simply indicate movement: it links the preceding action to the direction that follows. Adding 「〜ていく／〜てくる」 after a verb in the て-form allows the action and the direction of movement to be expressed within the same sentence. For example, 「買ってくる」 means to buy something and then come back, while 「持ってくる」 means to carry something toward the speaker’s side. The action and the movement may happen one after the other, or they may occur simultaneously.
「〜ていく」 usually indicates that after completing an action, someone moves away from the current location or in a direction away from the speaker. 「〜てくる」 usually indicates going somewhere else to do something and then returning to where the speaker is, or causing the result of an action to move closer to the speaker. In Chinese, these forms are often translated as “take there / bring here” or “go buy / buy and bring back,” but the real point of reference in Japanese is perspective.
Basic attachment rules for Japanese 「〜ていく／〜てくる」
「〜ていく／〜てくる」 attaches to the て-form of a verb. The preceding verb expresses the action actually being performed, while 「いく／くる」 expresses the direction. Common combinations include 「持っていく」「持ってくる」「買っていく」「買ってくる」「送っていく」「迎えに来る」, and others. Note that 「行く／来る」 can also function as ordinary verbs; this article focuses on the directional sense they have when used as supplementary verbs.
| Form | Direction | Common Chinese rendering | Core idea |
| Verb て-form＋いく | Away from the reference point | take there, do something and then go | Move outward after the action |
| Verb て-form＋くる | Back toward the reference point | buy and bring back, bring here | Return toward this side after the action |
| 持っていく | Carry something away | take there | The object moves away from the speaker’s location |
| 持ってくる | Carry something here | bring here | The object moves closer to the speaker’s location |
Usage ① of 「〜ていく」｜Continue on to another place after the action
The most straightforward use of 「〜ていく」 is to indicate doing the preceding action and then moving away, or taking something to another place. The speaker is usually positioned at the current location and views the movement as “leaving here.” Taking takeaway food somewhere, carrying an umbrella when going out, or bringing documents to the office are all typical 「〜ていく」 situations.
- Example: 傘を持っていきます。
Kana: かさを もっていきます。
Translation: I’ll take an umbrella with me.
「持っていく」 indicates that the umbrella leaves the current location and is taken somewhere else. - Example: この資料を会議室に持っていきます。
Kana: このしりょうを かいぎしつに もっていきます。
Translation: I’ll take these documents to the meeting room.
The documents move from the current location to the meeting room, so the direction is outward. - Example: コーヒーを買っていきます。
Kana: コーヒーを かっていきます。
Translation: I’ll buy some coffee and take it with me.
After buying the coffee, the speaker continues on to the destination, so 「買っていく」 is used.
Usage ② of 「〜てくる」｜Go out, finish something, and then come back
「〜てくる」 often indicates leaving the current location, going somewhere else to complete an action, and then returning to the original reference point. It does not simply mean “come”; it includes the route of “going out, doing something, and then coming back.” Buying something and returning, retrieving documents and coming back, or going to ask someone something and then reporting back are all situations where this form works well.
- Example: 飲み物を買ってきます。
Kana: のみものを かってきます。
Translation: I’ll go buy some drinks and come back.
The speaker first leaves to buy the drinks, then returns to the original place afterward. - Example: 駅で友だちを迎えてきます。
Kana: えきで ともだちを むかえてきます。
Translation: I’ll go pick up my friend at the station and come back.
「迎えてくる」 means going to pick someone up and then bringing that person back to the reference point. - Example: 先生に聞いてきます。
Kana: せんせいに きいてきます。
Translation: I’ll go ask the teacher and come back.
The point is not simply asking a question, but going to ask and then returning to the current conversation or location.
Usage ③ of 「〜ていく／〜てくる」｜Let the speaker’s perspective determine the direction
The same action can take 「〜ていく」 or 「〜てくる」 depending on the perspective. If a person or object moves toward the speaker’s location, use 「〜てくる」; if it moves away from the speaker’s location, use 「〜ていく」. So instead of looking only at the Chinese concepts of “go” and “come,” you need to identify where the sentence’s reference point is.
- Example: 田中さんが資料を持ってきました。
Kana: たなかさんが しりょうを もってきました。
Translation: Mr. Tanaka brought the documents here.
The documents move toward the speaker’s location, so 「持ってきました」 is used. - Example: 田中さんが資料を持っていきました。
Kana: たなかさんが しりょうを もっていきました。
Translation: Mr. Tanaka took the documents away.
The documents move away from the speaker’s location, so 「持っていきました」 is used. - Example: お弁当を買ってきてください。
Kana: おべんとうを かってきてください。
Translation: Please go buy a bento and bring it back.
The listener is being asked to go out, buy the bento, and bring it back to where the speaker is.
The difference between 「〜ていく」 and 「〜てくる」: Where does the movement end?
The difference between 「〜ていく」 and 「〜てくる」 is direction. With 「〜ていく」, the result of the action moves away from the reference point; with 「〜てくる」, the result moves toward the reference point. In Chinese, both may be translated as “go buy,” “take there,” or “bring here,” but in Japanese you need to look at where the person or object ultimately moves.
| Comparison | 〜ていく | 〜てくる | Common mistake |
| Direction | Away from the reference point | Back toward or closer to the reference point | Judging only from the Chinese “go/come” distinction |
| Typical situation | Take something there, buy something and continue on | Buy something and return, bring something back | Mixing up taking something away with buying and returning |
| Common combinations | 持っていく、買っていく | 持ってくる、買ってくる | Confusing taking something along with bringing something back |
| Key judgment | Farther away from here | Back to here | Failing to establish a reference point |
▌The route of 「買っていく」: Buy it and do not return to the original location
❌ Does not fit the situation: これからそのまま友だちの家へ行くので、ケーキを買ってきます。
✅ Natural: これからそのまま友だちの家へ行くので、ケーキを買っていきます。
The cake is bought and then taken directly to the friend’s house, so the movement is away from the current location and 「買っていく」 is used.
▌The route of 「買ってくる」: Go out to buy something, then come back here
❌ Does not fit the situation: ここで待っていてください。コンビニで水を買っていきます。
✅ Natural: ここで待っていてください。コンビニで水を買ってきます。
The other person waits in the original location while the speaker buys water and comes back, so 「買ってくる」 is used.
▌How do you distinguish 「持っていく／持ってくる」? Look at where the object ends up
❌ Does not fit the situation: 今は事務室にいます。この書類を一階の受付に持ってきます。
✅ Natural: 今は事務室にいます。この書類を一階の受付に持っていきます。
The documents move from the current location to the reception desk, which means they move away from the reference point, so 「持っていく」 is used.
Practical examples of Japanese 「〜ていく／〜てくる」: Convenience stores, offices, and meeting up
「〜ていく／〜てくる」 is extremely common in everyday life in Japan because it can quickly convey both a route and a task. Buying drinks at a convenience store, buying coffee before work, picking up documents before returning to the office, or taking an umbrella when going out are all situations where these forms often appear. When deciding which one to use, ask one question first: after the action is completed, does the movement continue away from here, or return here?
▌Situation ①｜Buy coffee before work and take it to the office
A：会社に行く前に、コーヒーを買っていきます。
かいしゃに いくまえに、コーヒーを かっていきます。
Before going to the office, I’ll buy some coffee and take it with me.
B：いいですね。会議は九時からです。
いいですね。かいぎは くじからです。
Sounds good. The meeting starts at nine.
📌 Grammar Point: After the coffee is bought, it is taken to the office, so the movement is away from the current location.
▌Situation ②｜Go to the convenience store, buy drinks, and come back
A：少しコンビニへ行ってきます。飲み物を買ってきます。
すこし コンビニへ いってきます。のみものを かってきます。
I’m going to the convenience store for a bit. I’ll buy some drinks and come back.
B：ありがとうございます。ここで待っています。
ありがとうございます。ここで まっています。
Thank you. I’ll wait here.
📌 Grammar Point: The speaker returns to the original location after buying the drinks, so 「買ってきます」 is used.
▌Situation ③｜Take the documents to the reception desk
A：この書類を受付に持っていきます。
このしょるいを うけつけに もっていきます。
I’ll take these documents to the reception desk.
B：お願いします。終わったら戻ってきてください。
おねがいします。おわったら もどってきてください。
Please do. Come back when you’re finished.
📌 Grammar Point: 「持っていく」 indicates that the documents move toward the reception desk, while 「戻ってくる」 indicates that the person returns to the original location.
Cultural Notes:
- Japanese often uses direction to add meaning to an action. 「買う」 only means “buy,” while 「買ってくる」 means buying something and then coming back.
- 「行ってきます」 is a fixed expression used when leaving, and it inherently carries the directional sense of “I’m going out and will come back.”
- When staff explain takeaway service, they often use 「お持ち帰り」 rather than directly saying 「持っていく」. Understanding the grammar and understanding actual service-industry wording should be treated separately.
How does Japanese 「〜ていく／〜てくる」 compare with Korean 「-아/어 가다／-아/어 오다」?
◆ Similar grammar: Korean 「-아/어 가다」「-아/어 오다」
Korean also has similar supplementary constructions for expressing direction. 「가지고 가다」 means to take something somewhere, while 「가지고 오다」 means to bring something here; 「사 가다」 means to buy something and take it away, while 「사 오다」 means to buy something and bring it back. As in Japanese, the key point is the direction relative to the speaker or another reference point.
- Example: 우산을 가지고 가요.
Romanization: u-sa-neul ga-ji-go ga-yo
Translation: I’ll take the umbrella with me.
The object moves away from the current location, corresponding to Japanese 「傘を持っていきます」. - Example: 물을 사 올게요.
Romanization: mu-reul sa ol-ge-yo
Translation: I’ll go buy some water and come back.
The speaker returns to the reference point after buying the water, corresponding to Japanese 「水を買ってきます」. - Example: 자료를 가져왔어요.
Romanization: ja-ryo-reul ga-jyeo-wa-sseo-yo
Translation: I brought the documents here.
The documents move closer to the speaker, corresponding to Japanese 「資料を持ってきました」.
◆ Core difference from 「〜ていく／〜てくる」:
Japanese often creates a directional meaning by attaching 「いく／くる」 to a verb in the て-form, while Korean commonly uses 「-아/어 가다／오다」 or established verb combinations. In both languages, you cannot rely only on the Chinese translation; you first need to determine the reference point and the final direction of movement.
The 「〜ていく／〜てくる」 discussed in this article mainly concerns the direction of actual movement by people or objects. When you see expressions such as 「持っていく」 or 「買ってくる」, first look at where the person or object ends up after the action. If it moves away from the current reference point, 「〜ていく」 will generally be used. If someone completes an action and returns to the original place, or moves toward the reference point, 「〜てくる」 will generally be used. However, whether the same sentence 「ケーキを買ってきます」 works still depends on whether the speaker comes back after buying the cake. Including the return route in the situation is closer to actual conversation than memorizing the forms as fixed equivalents of “take there / bring here.”
FAQs
「〜ていく」 indicates moving outward after doing something, or moving a person or object away from the current reference point. Common Chinese translations include “帶去” and “買了帶走.”
「〜てくる」 indicates going somewhere else to do something and then returning, or causing the result of an action to move closer to the speaker. Common Chinese translations include “買回來” and “拿來.”
「買っていく」 means buying something and then taking it somewhere else, while 「買ってくる」 means going out to buy something and then returning to the reference point. The difference is the direction after the action is completed.
Use 「持っていく」 when the object moves away from the current location, and 「持ってくる」 when the object is brought toward the current location. The key is whether the object ultimately moves closer to or farther away from the reference point.
「行ってきます」 carries the nuance of “I’m going out and will come back later.” It is a fixed everyday expression used when leaving and also helps illustrate the returning direction expressed by 「〜てくる」.