What is the *proper* differentiation between 来る and 行く?


In many beginning Japanese classes, 来る【くる】 and 行く【いく】 are presented as "to
come" and "to go," respectively. Dictionaries generally also define them this
way. However, every once in a while in more advanced classes, teachers will
mention that this is not actually the case; these words are used differently
in Japanese than their English (pseudo-)counterparts.

I cannot for the life of me remember the proper way to understand the
differentiation between these verbs, past "come" and "go," a fact which is
most embarassing.

Can someone please explain how these words are different than the English
"come" and "go" in their usage?

Related question: [Difference between -ていく and
-てくる](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/676/384)




As usual, I'll _go_ for examples which should _come_ in handy. Check the
emphasized words. (The translations are not natural, but it's not the point
here.)

**_Sample 1_**

> Won't you come visit _me_ in France?  
>  フランスに来ませんか？待っていますよ！
>
> Yes, I will go _to France_. We will go see the Arc de Triomphe.  
>  はい、フランスに行きますよ。一緒に凱旋門を見に行きましょう。
>
> Great. Mark came last summer already.  
>  良かった。去年の夏はマークさんが来たよ。

**_Sample 2_**

> Will you come/go to _John_ 's party tonight?  
>  今晩、ジョンさんのパーティに行きますか？
>
> No, I won't go to _John_ 's.  
>  いいえ、行きません。
>
> Paul is not coming/going either.  
>  ポールさんも行きません。

**_Sample 3_**

> Come here!  
>  来てください!
>
> Yes sir! I'm coming right away.  
>  はい、すぐ行きます。

**_Summary_**

Tarou is at place A, Jun is at place B. Tarou calls motions towards A as "来る".
Tarou calls motions away from A as "行く". Tarou calls motions towards Jun as
"行く".

行く/来る is from-here/to-here relatively to the person who uses the verb now. (I
suddenly have a doubt for a situation like "will you visit me at my new home
_when I moved to France_ ". I think "来る" would still be good, because it's
still about the narrator being reached.)




As usual, I'll _go_ for examples which should _come_ in handy. Check the
emphasized words. (The translations are not natural, but it's not the point
here.)

**_Sample 1_**

> Won't you come visit _me_ in France?  
>  フランスに来ませんか？待っていますよ！
>
> Yes, I will go _to France_. We will go see the Arc de Triomphe.  
>  はい、フランスに行きますよ。一緒に凱旋門を見に行きましょう。
>
> Great. Mark came last summer already.  
>  良かった。去年の夏はマークさんが来たよ。

**_Sample 2_**

> Will you come/go to _John_ 's party tonight?  
>  今晩、ジョンさんのパーティに行きますか？
>
> No, I won't go to _John_ 's.  
>  いいえ、行きません。
>
> Paul is not coming/going either.  
>  ポールさんも行きません。

**_Sample 3_**

> Come here!  
>  来てください!
>
> Yes sir! I'm coming right away.  
>  はい、すぐ行きます。

**_Summary_**

Tarou is at place A, Jun is at place B. Tarou calls motions towards A as "来る".
Tarou calls motions away from A as "行く". Tarou calls motions towards Jun as
"行く".

行く/来る is from-here/to-here relatively to the person who uses the verb now. (I
suddenly have a doubt for a situation like "will you visit me at my new home
_when I moved to France_ ". I think "来る" would still be good, because it's
still about the narrator being reached.)

