来

Meaning & usage

来, read らい, expresses that a state or repeated action has continued over a period up to the present, often translated as for the past. It attaches directly to nouns showing length of time, as in 三年来, 一週間来 or 数年来, without の or 間. It is used with present ongoing predicates like ている and sounds formal or written. It cannot follow a specific starting point such as a date or an event.

Example sentences 5

1. 三年来東京さんねんらいとうきょうに住すんでいます。

   I have been living in Tokyo for three years.

2. 一週間来雨が続いている。

   It has been raining for a week now.

3. 半年来ずっと仕事が忙しい。

   I have been busy with work for half a year.

4. 一年来日本語を勉強している。

   I have been studying Japanese for a year.

5. 数年来この店に通っている。

   I have been coming to this shop for several years.