Making Sense of Japanese Grammar

61. Interpretations of -te-kuru/-te-iku

61 Interpretations of -te-kuru/-te-iku The expressions -te-kuru and -te-iku may seem to have too many and too different meanings to discuss, but what look like unrelated meanings are actually extensions of the verbs’ core meaning of “directional movement” along with the meanings of te-forms (Unit 50). Of the many varied meanings of te-forms, those of simultaneous interpretation and sequential interpretation play key roles in the interpretation of -te-kuru/-te-iku. Sequential Interpretation In the following sentences, the sense of readiness derives from sequential interpretation: Kyoo-wa kuizu-desu-kara, kanji-o oboete-kimashita. “We have a quiz today, so I came having memorized kanji.” Ashita-wa kuizu-desu-kara, kanji-o oboete-ikimasu. “We have a quiz tomorrow, so I will go having memorized kanji.” These can be graphically represented as follows: here Simultaneous Interpretation Simultaneous interpretation is relevant in such cases as the following, in which the te-forms are interpreted as manners of coming or going: Hana-o motte-kita. “I brought flowers.” Hana-o motte-itta. “I took flowers.” 159 Booshi-o kabutte-itta. “I went wearing a hat.” These can be graphically represented as follows: here Directional Interpretation Directional interpretation is a variation of simultaneous interpretation, in which the auxiliary verbs -kuru “to come” and -iku “to go” simply add the sense of direction: Tori-ga tonde-kita. “A bird flew over (this way).” Tori-ga tonde-iku. “A bird is flying away.” These can be graphically represented as follows: here This directional use of -te-kuru/-te-iku is metaphorically extended to include time, as shown below: Nihon-jin-wa kanji-o tsukatte-kita. “Japanese people have been using Chinese characters (up to now).” Kore-kara-mo kanji-o tsukatte-iku-daroo. “They will go on using Chinese characters from now on, too.” These can be graphically represented as follows: 160 now Many native speakers feel that this use of -te-kuru/-te-iku is sufficiently different from the other cases that they do not use the Chinese characters that mean “to come” and “to go,” but write them in hiragana instead. Perceptual Change In addition, -te-kuru has a use which is often translated “to start”: Ame-ga futte-kita. “It started to rain.” Atama-ga itaku natte-kita. “I started to have a headache.” Hidari-no hoo-ni yama-ga miete-kuru-deshoo. “Mountains will come into your view on your left.” Verbs that can appear in this construction with this particular sense are limited to those that describe events uncontrollable by the speaker or the listener. In other words, the underlying meaning is that “an external event enters the speaker’s or the listener’s perceptual world.” There is naturally no counterpart in -te-iku for this usage because a perceptual change is interpreted as approaching someone who experiences it. It can be graphically represented as follows: speaker Most native speakers do not use the Chinese character meaning “to come” for this case, either. Checking your comprehension: Translate the following sentences into English: Ima-made san-nen-gurai Nihon-go-o benkyoo-shite-kita. Atsuku natte-kita. 161 Nihon-de Nihon-go-o benkyoo-shite-kita. Nihon-go-ga wakatte-kita. Tsuki-ga dete-kita. 162 For related topics, see also Units 50, 52, and 62. ...