Translation and Meaning of: いく - iku

The Japanese word いく (iku) is one of those terms that carries such distinct meanings that it can be quite surprising. While its most common use refers to the verb "to go" or "to come," depending on the context, it also has a very different connotation in the realm of intimacy. If you've ever wondered why this little word appears so often in songs, anime, and even casual conversations, this article will show you everything from its origin to its most unusual uses. Here, you will also learn how to write the kanji correctly, along with tips to memorize this word effectively using spaced repetition techniques.

Origin and etymology of いく

The word いく (iku) has ancient roots in archaic Japanese, derived from the verb 行く (yuku), which means "to go". Over time, the pronunciation simplified to "iku", but the original kanji (行) continued to be used in formal writing. Interestingly, this same ideogram appears in words like 行動 (kōdō), which means "action" or "behavior", showing how the idea of movement is connected to its essence.

In colloquial context, the use of いく to describe orgasm emerged as a metaphor for "going" to a state of ecstasy. This duality of meanings is common in many languages, but in Japanese, it takes on an almost poetic tone. Imagine the scene: a couple whispering "iku?" as a discreet code, while in another context the same word can be used to ask if someone is going to the market. This flexibility is what makes Japanese so fascinating.

Everyday use and popular expressions

Beyond its most intimate meaning, いく appears in various everyday expressions. One of the most common is どこ行くの？ (doko iku no?), which means "Where are you going?". Another useful variation is 一緒に行こう (issho ni ikou), used to invite someone to go somewhere together. These phrases are so frequent that you will hear them repeatedly in Japanese dramas or even in real conversations on the streets of Tokyo.

In the realm of relationships, the use of いく as a euphemism for orgasm is so widespread that even adult mangas and animes employ it openly. If you've watched some hotter scenes in Japanese productions, you've probably noticed characters murmuring "iku, iku!" at key moments. This double meaning is so rooted in the culture that it has even become a joke in some comedy shows, where hosts play with ambiguous situations using the word.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

If you are struggling to remember when to use いく in its literal or metaphorical sense, a tip is to pay attention to the context. In formal or neutral situations, it almost always refers to the act of going. However, in more intimate dialogues or in certain entertainment genres, it can carry the other meaning. A technique that works well is to associate the kanji 行 with a mental image of movement, whether physical or emotional.

A fun fact is that some J-Pop fans play with the dual meanings of words in songs. There are even cases of lyrics that seem innocent at first glance, but when analyzed carefully, reveal daring puns using いく. And if you've ever used dating apps in Japan, you know that understanding these nuances can avoid embarrassments—nobody wants to confuse an invitation to "go to the movies" with something else, right?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of いく

• いく - Verb irregular
• いきます - polite form
• いかない - negative form
• いって - て imperative form
• いった - past form

Synonyms and similar words

• 行く (iku) - Go, to cause movement towards a place.
• 逝く (iku) - To go, but with a connotation of departing, often used in contexts of death.
• 往く (iku) - To go, usually used in literary or formal contexts.
• 歩く (aruku) - Walk, move on foot.
• 走る (hashiru) - Run, move quickly.
• 進む (susumu) - Advance, proceed towards a goal.
• 出かける (dekakeru) - Leave, go outside the house.
• 移動する (idou suru) - Move, to transit from one place to another.
• 訪れる (otozureru) - Visit, go to a place for a specific purpose.
• 足を運ぶ (ashi wo hakobu) - To travel, to make an effort to visit or go to a place.
• 旅する (tabi suru) - Travel, take a journey.
• 訪問する (houmon suru) - Visit, usually in a formal context.
• 赴く (omomuku) - To go to a specific place for certain reasons.
• 出発する (shuppatsu suru) - To depart, to start a journey.
• 通う (kayou) - To frequent, to go regularly to a place, such as school or work.
• 乗り込む (norikomu) - To get in, to board a vehicle.
• 訪ねる (tazuneru) - Visit in a more casual or friendly way.

いく

Romaji: iku
Kana: いく
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n1, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: come over; have orgasm

Meaning in English: to come;to orgasm

Definition: to pass away: to die. to become extinct. to leave.

Example Sentences - (いく) iku

See below some example sentences:

私たちはお互いを支え合って生きていく必要がある。

Watashitachi wa otagai o sasaete ikiteiku hitsuyou ga aru

We need to live supporting each other.

We need to support each other and live.

• 私たちは - We
• お互いを - each other
• 支え合って - supporting each other
• 生きていく - live
• 必要がある - Is required

ドライクリーニングは衣服を綺麗にするために便利な方法です。

Doraikurīningu wa ifuku o kirei ni suru tame ni benri na hōhō desu

Dry cleaning is a convenient method for cleaning clothes.

Dry cleaning is a convenient way to clean your clothes.

• ドライクリーニング - ドライクリーニング
• は - Topic particle
• 衣服 - 服
• を - direct object particle
• 綺麗 - 綺麗 (きれい)
• に - target particle
• する - verb in dictionary form that means "to do"
• ために - expression that means "for"
• 便利 - 便利
• な - suffix that transforms the adjective into a noun adjective
• 方法 - 方法
• です - copulative verb that indicates the current state or the existence of something

アルミ缶はリサイクルできます。

Arumi kan wa risaikuru dekimasu

Aluminum cans can be recycled.

Aluminum cans can be recycled.

• アルミ缶 - aluminum can
• は - Topic particle
• リサイクル - recycling
• できます - can be done

合計はいくらですか？

Goukei wa ikura desu ka?

What is the total?

How much is the total?

• Input - - - indicates that the following sentence is a data entry.
• 合計 - - - means "total" in Japanese.
• は - - - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "total".
• いくら - - - means "how much" in Japanese.
• です - - - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.
• か - - - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates a question.
• Output - - - indicates that the following sentence is a data output.

この商品の定価はいくらですか？

Kono shouhin no teika wa ikura desu ka?

What is the list price of this product?

• この - demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this"
• 商品 - noun meaning "product" or "merchandise"
• の - possession particle, indicating that the product is the object of the question
• 定価 - fixed price
• は - topic particle, indicating that the question refers to the fixed price of the product
• いくら - interrogative pronoun that means "how much"
• ですか - an expression that indicates a polite question, equivalent to "could you please tell me?"

この商品の金額はいくらですか？

Kono shouhin no kingaku wa ikura desu ka?

What is the value of this product?

How much is this product?

• この商品 - This product
• の - Possessive particle
• 金額 - Price
• は - Topic particle
• いくら - How much
• ですか - Is (interrogative particle)

マイクは私の友達です。

Maiku wa watashi no tomodachi desu

Mike is my friend.

• マイク - first name in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I"
• の - possessive particle in Japanese
• 友達 - Japanese noun meaning "friend"
• です - Japanese verb to be in polite form

料金はいくらですか？

Ryōkin wa ikura desu ka?

What is the price?

How much does this cost?

• 料金 - means "price" in Japanese.
• は - It is a topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "price".
• いくら - means "how much" in Japanese and is used to ask about the price of something.
• ですか - It is a polite way to ask in Japanese, equivalent to "is" or "are" in English.

次々に新しいアイデアを出していく。

Tsugitsugi ni atarashii aidea wo dashite iku

We will give new ideas one after another.

• 次々に - adverb that indicates a consecutive action, one after the other;
• 新しい - adjective meaning "new";
• アイデア - noun meaning "idea";
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence;
• 出していく - compound verb meaning "to launch, present" and "to continue doing something in the future."

私のお気に入りの玩具はぬいぐるみです。

Watashi no okiniiri no gangu wa nuigurumi desu

My favorite toy is a stuffed animal.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - Japanese particle indicating possession or relationship between two things
• お気に入り (okiniiri) - Japanese noun meaning "favorite"
• の (no) - Japanese particle indicating possession or relationship between two things
• 玩具 (gangu) - Japanese noun meaning "toy"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• ぬいぐるみ (nuigurumi) - Japanese noun meaning "plush"
• です (desu) - Japanese linking verb indicating the existence or property of something