Translation and Meaning of: 行き - iki

Have you ever wondered how the Japanese express the idea of "going" in everyday situations? The word 行き [いき] is one of the most common ways to indicate movement, but it goes far beyond its literal meaning. In this article, you will discover the fascinating etymology behind this term, how it is used in the Japanese language, and even tips to memorize its kanji. If you are studying Japanese, understanding 行き is essential for constructing sentences like "Tóquio 行きの電車" (train bound for Tokyo). Here at Suki Nihongo, you will also find practical examples to include in your Anki and supercharge your studies!

Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 行き

The kanji 行 is one of those characters that carries an impressive visual history. Originally, it represented an intersection of streets, symbolizing movement and direction. In ancient China, this pictogram evolved to include the idea of "walking" or "following a path". When the Japanese adopted the kanji, they maintained this sense of displacement but adapted its reading to いき in the context of destination.

Curiously, the combination of the radical 彳 (step) with 亍 (stop) in the kanji 行 creates an interesting duality: movement and pause. This explains why the same character can mean both "to go" (行く) and "line" or "business" in other contexts. Anyone who has seen station signs with 大阪行き (destination Osaka) realizes how this ideogram is ubiquitous in Japan.

Practical Use in Japanese Daily Life

In train stations, airports, and even in casual conversations, 行き is indispensable. The Japanese use this word as a suffix to indicate direction, as in 新宿行きのバス (bus to Shinjuku). Unlike Portuguese, where we say "bus to", in Japanese the destination is attached to the noun. This structure can be confusing at first, but with practice it becomes natural.

A common mistake among students is to confuse 行き with 来き (which doesn't even exist!). Remember: if it's about going somewhere, only 行き works. A tip? Associate the sound "iki" with "go fast" - when you're running late, think "iki, iki!" in your mind. It works as a silly but effective mnemonic!

Memory Tips and Curiosities

To never forget the kanji 行, imagine a person walking between two buildings (the vertical lines) on the sidewalk (the horizontal line). This mental image helps to fix both the writing and the meaning. Another trick is to remember that it appears in words like 行動 (action/behavior) and 銀行 (bank) - places where people are always on the move.

Did you know that train announcements in Japan use 行き in a musical way? The sound notifications always end with an ascending tone when saying "…行きです", as if they are "pushing" passengers into the carriage. Cultural details like this show how the Japanese language turns even grammar into a sensory experience.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 行く (iku) - Please provide the text you would like to have translated.
• 出かける (dekakeru) - Leave, leave home for a specific place
• 進む (susumu) - move forward, proceed
• 移動する (idou suru) - Move, shift
• 赴く (otozureru) - Go to a place, especially for a specific task or visit.
• 旅立つ (tabidatsu) - Leave for a trip

行き

Romaji: iki
Kana: いき
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: indo

Meaning in English: going

Definition: To change/visit.

Example Sentences - (行き) iki

See below some example sentences:

彼女を迎えに行きます。

Kanojo wo mukae ni ikimasu

I will pick her up.

I will pick myself.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Namorada" significa "彼女" (かのじ, kanojo) em japonês.
• を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 迎え (mukae) - The verb that means "to seek" or "to receive" in Japanese is "受ける" (うける).
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 行きます (ikimasu) - The verb that means "to go" in Japanese, conjugated in the present tense is "行く" (iku).

墓参りに行きたいです。

Hakamairi ni ikitai desu

I want to go visit the grave.

I want to go to the grave.

• 墓参り - It means "to visit the grave" in Japanese. It is composed of the characters 墓 (grave) and 参り (to visit).
• に - It is a case particle in Japanese that indicates the target or destination of an action. In this case, it indicates that the purpose of the action is to "go to" the grave.
• 行きたい - It is a conjugated form of the verb 行く (iku), which means "to go." The form 行きたい (ikitai) indicates a desire or wish to go.
• です - It is a sentence-ending particle in Japanese, used to indicate courtesy or formality. In this case, it is used to make the sentence more polite.

博物館に行きたいです。

Hakubutsukan ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the museum.

I want to go to the museum.

• 博物館 (hakubutsukan) - museum
• に (ni) - particle indicating destination
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - a polite way of finishing a sentence

下着を買いに行きます。

Shitagi wo kai ni ikimasu

I will buy underwear.

I will buy underwear.

• 下着 (したぎ) - underwear
• を - direct object particle
• 買い (かい) - buy
• に - target particle
• 行きます (いきます) - Go

この商品の売れ行きは好調です。

Kono shouhin no ureyuki wa kouchou desu

Sales of this product are going well.

Sales of this product are strong.

• この商品 - this product
• の - of
• 売れ行き - sales
• は - are
• 好調 - favorable, good
• です - is

キャンプに行きたいです。

Kyampu ni ikitai desu

I want to go camping.

I want to go to the camp.

• キャンプ (kyanpu) - camping
• に (ni) - destination or location indication
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - polite way to end a sentence

行き違いが起こった。

Iki chigai ga okotta

There was a misunderstanding.

An error has occurred.

• 行き違い (ikichigai) - misunderstanding
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 起こった (okotta) - happened, occurred

インクを買いに行きます。

Inku wo kai ni ikimasu

I'm going to buy paint.

• インク (ink) - Noun that means ink in Japanese.
• を (wo) - Object particle that indicates that the previous noun is the object of the action.
• 買い (kai) - Noun that means purchase in Japanese.
• に (ni) - Destination particle indicating the place where the action is being directed
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Verb that means to go in Japanese, conjugated in the present affirmative

エレガントなドレスを着てパーティーに行きます。

Elegant na doresu wo kite paatii ni ikimasu

I go to a party wearing an elegant dress.

• エレガントな - elegant
• ドレス - dress
• を - direct object particle
• 着て - dressing (gerund verb)
• パーティー - party
• に - target particle
• 行きます - go

お八つ目の神社に行きたいです。

O hachitsume no jinja ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the eighth sanctuary.

I want to go to the eighth sanctuary.

• お八つ目 - eighth
• の - Possession particle
• 神社 - Shinto shrine
• に - target particle
• 行きたい - want to go
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present