How to Say ‘To come (came)’ in Japanese
来ました
ki mashi ta
[koh (as in 'kuru') mah-shee tah]
💬 Usage Tip: [来ました] is the polite past of [来る]. It can mean “came” or “(have) arrived.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: At venues, staff may ask [いつ来ましたか] (“When did you arrive?”) using this verb.
Phrase Breakdown
来
ki
[koh (as in 'kuru')]
come (kanji for 来る)
Kanji indicating the verb 来る (to come). With ました it becomes polite past: “came.”
友だちと来ました。
I came with a friend.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past marker part (〜ました)
Part of the polite past ending 〜ました used with many verbs.
ここに来ました。
I came here.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending (polite)
Completes 〜ました to make polite past (“did / came”).
一人で来ました。
I came alone.
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