Japanese with Manga

Coming to for a purpose with

Grammar: Purpose » 〜に来る

[verb]に来(く)る means “come somewhere to do something”. Put purpose marker に after the verb stem.

Usage Notes

It is used when someone comes toward the speaker, listener, or current place to do something. It requires physical movement to a location, so it fits activities like eating, playing, or studying, but not abstract or non-physical purposes.

Formation

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  1. Noun (place) + へ or に or で + Verb stem + に + 来(く)る
    • 川(かわ)へ釣(つ)りに来(き)た
    • "I came to the river to fish."
  2. Noun (place) + へ or に or で + Noun (する) + に + 来(く)る
    • 日本(にほん)へ勉強(べんきょう)しに来(き)た
    • "I came to Japan to study."
Note: The place name is optional in each of these formations.

Further Reading

Related Grammar

  • Going to for a purpose with 〜に行く
  • Returning to for a purpose with 〜に来る

Examples

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Coming to buy coffee mugs with 〜に来る

Grammar Explanation: Coming to for a purpose with 〜に来る (Future entry)

Learn the meaning and usage of the grammar 〜に来る in Japanese, with examples from manga.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 53

Rize explains to Syaro why she and her friends are at the store.

リゼ:
「喫茶店(きっさてん)で使(つか)うカップ買(か)いに来(き)たんだよ」
“We came to buy cups to use at the café.”
シャロ:
「そうだったんですか」
“Oh, I see.”

Coming to meet someone with 〜に来る

Grammar Explanation: Coming to for a purpose with 〜に来る (Future entry)

Learn the meaning and usage of the grammar 〜に来る in Japanese, with examples from manga.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 61

Syaro tries to find out who’s responsible for Chiya and the others visiting her workplace.

シャロ:
「大体(だいたい)こんなチラシで勘違(かんちが)いしたの誰(だれ)」
“Who misunderstood this flyer in the first place?”
ココア:
「私(わたし)たちシャロちゃんに会(あ)いに来(き)ただけだよ？」
“We just came to see you, Sharo-chan.”
チノ:
「いかがわしいってどういう意味(いみ)です？」
“What does “shady” mean?”
リゼ:
「こんなことだろうと思(おも)った」
“I figured it was something like this.”

Coming to visit with 〜に来る

Grammar Explanation: Coming to for a purpose with 〜に来る (Future entry)

Learn the meaning and usage of the grammar 〜に来る in Japanese, with examples from manga.
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 67

Chiya and Syaro visit Cocoa at the coffee shop.

ココア:
「二人(ふたり)ともこんな天気(てんき)なのに遊(あそ)びに来(き)てくれてありがとね」
“Thanks, both of you, for coming to visit even in weather like this.”
シャロ:
「ちょうどバイトの予定(よてい)が空白(くうはく)になっただけだし」
“I just happened to have a gap in my work schedule.”
Coming to wake someone with 〜に来る
ハヤテのごとく！ » Volume 1 » Page 135