かかってこい
kakatte koi
The English phrase "come at me" is translated into Japanese as かかってこい (kakatte koi).
This phrase is a challenge used to dare someone to start a fight or an argument. It is typically used in high-tension situations, such as physical confrontations or heated verbal arguments, to dare an opponent to take the first step.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is highly aggressive and informal because it uses the imperative (commanding) form.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can turn the phrase into a rhetorical question by adding the negative interrogative ending か, resulting in かかってこないか (won't you come at me?).
How do you pronounce it?
kakatte koi
Did you know?
- While かかってこい is a challenge to fight, the root verb かかる is also used to describe a fish biting a hook or a trap springing shut.
- If you want to sound like a villain instead of a hero, you might use the more arrogant かかってくるか to mockingly ask 'Are you really going to come at me?'
- Because かかってこい is so synonymous with fictional heroes, using it in real life often makes the speaker look like they are imitating a manga character.
Examples in context
- やってきなさい！Come at me!
- 今ここでやってきなさい！Come at me right here, right now!
- 逃げずに、かかってこい！Nigezu ni, kakatte koi!Don't run away, come at me!
- 準備はできている。かかってこい。Junbi wa dekite iru. Kakatte koi.I'm ready. Come at me.
- そんなつもりなら、かかってこいよ。Sonna tsumori nara, kakatte koi yo.If that's your intention, then come at me.
Example conversation
Two friends are playfully challenging each other during a video game match.
- 美咲 Misaki負けたくないから、かかってこい！Maketaku nai kara, kakatte koi!I don't want to lose, so come at me!
- 健太 Kenta望むところだ。Nozomu tokoro da.That's exactly what I wanted.
- 美咲 Misaki次はもっと本気で行くよ。Tsugi wa motto honki de iku yo.I'm going to be more serious next time.
- 健太 Kenta美咲なら、受けて立つよ。Misaki nara, ukete tatsu yo.If it's you, Misaki, I'll accept the challenge.
