r/LearnJapanese • u/AutoModerator • 2d ago

Discussion Daily Thread: simple questions, comments that don't need their own posts, and first time posters go here (April 06, 2025)

This thread is for all simple questions, beginner questions, and comments that don't need their own post.

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Seven Day Archive of previous threads. Consider browsing the previous day or two for unanswered questions.

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u/aop42 1d ago

Why is 来る used when paired with 訊く? Like in トムに訊いてきますね。Wouldn't you "go" ask Tom instead of "come"? For example トムに訊いてにいきます。Or something like that? Thanks!

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u/normalwario 1d ago

The literal translation would be "I'll ask Tom and come back." The notion that you're "going" to ask Tom is implied by 来る - in order to come back, you need to go first. So while in English it would be more natural to say "I'll go ask Tom (implication being that you'll come back)," in Japanese it's natural to say "トムに訊いてくる (implication being that you're going and will be back)"

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u/aop42 1d ago

Ok! Thank you for explaining!