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:

別々に行きましょう。

Wakarebanashi ni ikimashou

Let's each go separately.

Let's go separately.

• 別々に - adverb that means "separately" or "individually"
• 行きましょう - verb that means "let's go" or "let's leave"

南に行きたいです。

Minami ni ikitai desu

I want to go south.

• 南 (Minami) - south
• に (ni) - particle indicating direction
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

取材に行きます。

Shuzai ni ikimasu

I'm going to do a report.

I will go to the interview.

• 取材 - means "information gathering" or "interview" in Japanese.
• に - a Japanese particle that indicates the target or destination of an action.
• 行きます - です (desu) é a forma educada e polida do verbo "ir" em japonês.

向かいの店に行きたいです。

Mukai no mise ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the store on the other side.

I want to go to the opposite store.

• 向かいの店 - "Mukai no mise" means "store on the other side of the street."
• に - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case "to".
• 行きたい - "ikitai" is the polite form of saying "I want to go."
• です - particle that indicates the formality of the sentence, in this case "is".

図書館に行きたいです。

Toshokan ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the library.

I want to go to the library.

• 図書館 (toshokan) - library
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

外国に行きたいです。

Gaikoku ni ikitai desu

I want to go abroad.

• 外国 - "Foreign country"
• に - particle that indicates the target or destination of an action
• 行きたい - "Want to go"
• です - Particle indicating the polite or formal form of a sentence

天国に行きたいです。

Tengoku ni ikitai desu

I want to go to paradise.

I want to go to heaven.

• 天国 (tengoku) - sky
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - Particle that indicates the end of the sentence and politeness.

市場に行きます。

Ichiba ni ikimasu

I'm going to the market.

Go to the market.

• 市場 (ichiba) - Marketplace
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Go

幽霊が出るところには行きたくないです。

Yūrei ga deru tokoro ni wa ikitakunai desu

I don't want to go where the ghosts come out.

• 幽霊 - Ghost
• が - subject particle
• 出る - Appear
• ところ - place
• には - focus particle
• 行きたくない - not wanting to go
• です - Sentence-ending particle

彼女は病気の友人を見舞うために病院に行きました。

Kanojo wa byouki no yuujin wo mimau tame ni byouin ni ikimashita

She went to the hospital to visit a sick friend.

She went to the hospital to see her sick friend.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 病気 (byouki) - disease
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 友人 (yuujin) - amigo/amiga
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 見舞う (mimau) - visit (someone who is ill)
• ために (tameni) - for
• 病院 (byouin) - hospital
• に (ni) - Location particle
• 行きました (ikimashita) - foi (past tense of ir)