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おいで (oide) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Come

Author Sandro Maglione for article 'おいで (oide) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Come'

Sandro Maglione

The term おいで (oide) literally means to come, but in some cases it can also take the meaning of to be or to go.

Specifically, おいで is used as a command form for the verbs ()く and ()る.

おいで is also used as a verbal suffix to form some particular expressions.

In this post we are going to learn more about おいで, how it is formed, and when おいで is used through real example sentences.


How it is formed and what おいで means

おいで is a colloquial form to express a request or command.

When おいで is used alone (without being a verbal suffix) the term can take the meaning of come, go, or be depending on the context.

おいで can also appear in its kanji form お()

おいで is a contracted form of おいでなさい, which in turn is an honorific form that takes on the same meaning.

(A)+おいで+(B)

どうぞおいで(くだ)さい。

Come here please.

When instead おいで is used as a verbal suffix it can take on different meanings depending on the conjugation:

  • おいで: Te form followed by おいで. This form has the same meaning as ていろ, て来い, and に行け (imperative forms of the verbs いる, 来る, and 行く)
  • おいで: Particle に followed by おいで. It has the same meaning as に来い, which means come (here).
Verb[て Form]+おいで
+おいで

Now let's see an example of a sentence with audio that uses the expression おいで:

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ミカ(あに)(はや)くおいでよ~!

Brother Mika, come here quickly.

In this example the character is calling his older brother ((あに)) to come and play together. The sentence uses the expression おいで in its meaning of come, associated with the adverb (はや)quickly, soon.


Examples of おいで

(はい)っておいでよ。

Come in.

よくおいでくださいました。

Thank you for taking the time to come.

(ぼう)や、おいで。

Boy, come here.

In this example we notice a typical use of おいで: in fact おいで is often found when a superior (parent, grandfather) refers to a boy or child to ask him to come or go.

(しず)かにしてお()で。

Be quiet (please).

In this example お()で takes on the meaning of being.