Expresses an action or change moving TOWARD the present point — in space (coming/arriving, going and coming back) or in time (a gradual change that has built up until now).
[Verb te-form] + くる
最近、寒くなってきた。
Saikin, samuku natte kita.
It's gotten cold lately (up to now).
なって + きた = has become — change built up from the past toward now
コーヒーを買ってきます。
Koohii o katte kimasu.
I'll go buy coffee and come back.
買って + きます = go, buy, and return (physical movement back toward here)
駅の前に新しい店が増えてきました。
Eki no mae ni atarashii mise ga fuete kimashita.
New shops have been increasing in front of the station (up to now).
増えて + きました = have increased — change built up from the past toward now
• Key Concept: てくる (toward now / from past up to present) vs ていく (away / from now into the future): 日本語が上手になってきた (has been improving up to now) vs なっていく (will keep improving from here).
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones てくる is tested against.
ていく sends the movement/change AWAY from now into the future; てくる brings it TOWARD the present (up to now).
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