How to say "come" in Japanese

• くるJLPT N5approx.Common
  kuru verb, intransitive verbThe neutral verb for actual coming: someone or something moving toward the speaker or another reference point, or a time or event arriving; also 'to approach'.
  １０時じまでに来きます。↗

  I'll come by 10.
• さあJLPT N5approx.Common
  interjectionNot a motion verb but an interjection: the 'come' of 'Come on!' or 'Come now', urging, encouraging, or inviting someone to do something.
• 居らっしゃるいらっしゃるJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb (irregular), intransitive verbHonorific 'come' (also 'go' and 'be'): use it when speaking respectfully of a superior's or guest's coming, going, or presence, as when a customer arrives.
  お母かあさんはいらっしゃいますか。↗

  Is your mother at home?
• まいるJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbHumble 'come' or 'go' for your own movement toward someone you are humbling yourself before, as when telling a customer you will come; also 'to call'. Usually written in kana alone.
  ２、３分ぶんしたらそちらにまいります。↗

  I'll be with you in a few minutes.
• いらっしゃいJLPT N3approx.Common
  interjectionThe honorific 'come' addressed to a guest: what a shopkeeper or host says to welcome someone or invite them in; it can also invite a guest to stay.
  いるだけ持もっていらっしゃい。↗

  Please take with you as much as you need.

Use 「くる」 for literal coming, 「さあ」 for the exclamation 'come on!', 「居らっしゃる」 and 「まいる」 as honorific and humble verbs of coming and going, and 「いらっしゃい」 to invite a guest in.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• くるto come (spatially or temporally)
• さあcome (on)
• いらっしゃるto come
• まいるto go
• いらっしゃいcome
• 出でるいでるto go
• いざnow
• 参ずるさんずるto come
• おいでなさるto come
• おいでなさいcome
• 参じるさんじるto come
• おいないcome
• お越しになるおこしになるto come
• お見えになるおみえになるto arrive
• さあさあcome, come
• 参らせるまいらせるto beat
• さcome
• 見えるみえるto come
• 運ぶはこぶto come
• 響くひびくto come (home)
• 伝わるつたわるto be introduced (to a country, region, etc.)
• 訪れるおとずれるto arrive (of a season, situation, etc.)
• 基づくもとづくto be due to
• 来るきたるto come
• おいでになるto come
• おいで(please) come
• なるto come (to do)
• いくto have an orgasm
• 降るふるto visit (of luck, misfortune, etc.)
• 越すこすto go