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:

プリントを取りに行きます。

Purinto wo tori ni ikimasu

I will seek the impression.

I will take an impression.

• プリント - "print" in Japanese
• を - object particle
• 取り - verb form "取る" (to take)
• に - target particle
• 行きます - polite form of the verb "行く" (to go)

二人で行きましょう。

Futari de ikimashou

Let's go together, the two of us.

Let's go together.

• 二人 (futari) - It means "two people."
• で (de) - it is a particle that indicates the medium or the way something is done
• 行きましょう (ikimashou) - It is a verb that means "let's go" or "let's do"

今度は一緒に行きましょう。

Kondo wa issho ni ikimashou

Let's go together this time.

• 今度 - "this time"
• は - Topic particle
• 一緒に - Together
• 行きましょう - "let's go"

今日は遠足に行きます。

Kyou wa ensoku ni ikimasu

Today we go to an excursion.

I'm going to an excursion today.

• 今日 - today
• は - Topic particle
• 遠足 - excursion
• に - target particle
• 行きます - Go

何処に行きますか？

Doko ni ikimasu ka?

Where are you going?

Where will you go?

• 何処 - Where
• に - Particle that indicates the place where something happens
• 行きます - Go
• か - Particle that indicates a question

先先月に東京に行きました。

Sensenshū ni Tōkyō ni ikimashita

In the last month

I went to Tokyo last month.

• 先先月 - "last month"
• に - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 東京 - "Tokyo"
• に - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 行きました - "was"

公園に行きたいです。

Kouen ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the park.

• 公園 (kouen) - park
• に (ni) - particle indicating where you want to go
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - polite way to end a sentence

六月に日本に行きます。

Rokugatsu ni Nihon ni ikimasu

I will go to Japan in June.

• 六月 - June
• に - Time or location indication
• 日本 - Japan
• に - Time or location indication
• 行きます - will (verb to go in the future)

再来月に日本に行きます。

Sairai tsuki ni Nihon ni ikimasu

I go to Japan next month.

I will go to Japan again next month.

• 再来月 (sairaimotsuki) - means "next month again" or "the month following the next one."
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates destination or location.
• 日本 (nihon) - the name of the country Japan.
• に (ni) - again, the particle that indicates the destination or location.
• 行きます (ikimasu) - the verb "to go" in the present/future polite.

再来年に日本に行きたいです。

Sairainen ni Nihon ni ikitai desu

I want to go to Japan next year.

I want to go to Japan again next year.

• 再来年 (sairainen) - means "in the following year" or "two years from now".
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates destination or location.
• 日本 (nihon) - the name of the country Japan.
• に (ni) - again, the particle that indicates the destination or location.
• 行きたい (ikitai) - means "to want to go".
• です (desu) - a particle that indicates the conclusion of the sentence and is used to express politeness.