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:

教会に行きたいです。

Kyōkai ni ikitai desu

I want to go to church.

I want to go to the church.

• 教会 (kyoukai) - church
• に (ni) - location indication
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - polite way to end a sentence

有名な観光地に行きたいです。

Yūmei na kankōchi ni ikitai desu

I want to go to a famous tourist place.

I want to go to a famous tourist spot.

• 有名な - famous
• 観光地 - Tourist attraction
• に - particle indicating destination
• 行きたい - want to go
• です - a polite way of finishing a sentence

格が高い店に行きたいです。

Kaku ga takai mise ni ikitai desu Translation: I want to go to a high

end store.

I want to go to a high-ranking store.

• 格が高い - means "of high quality" or "of high level".
• 店 - means "store" or "establishment".
• に - It's a particle that indicates the direction or the target of the action.
• 行きたい - it is a form of the verb "to go" in the present tense and indicates desire or will.
• です - It is a polite way to end a sentence in Japanese, equivalent to "please" or "thank you" in Portuguese.

洗剤を買いに行きます。

Senzai wo kai ni ikimasu

I'm going to buy detergent.

I'm going to buy a detergent.

• 洗剤 (sentaku) - detergent
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 買い (kai) - Purchase
• に (ni) - target particle
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Go

浴衣を着て祭りに行きたいです。

Yukata o kite matsuri ni ikitai desu

I want to wear a Yukata and go to a festival.

I want to go to the festival using a Yukata.

• 浴衣 - Traditional Japanese clothing worn at festivals and special occasions
• を - object particle
• 着て - "vestindo"
• 祭り - festival
• に - target particle
• 行きたい - verb "to want to go" in present
• です - Sentence-ending particle

祭りに行きたいです。

Matsuri ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the festival.

I want to go to the festival.

• 祭り - festival
• に - partícula que indica o alvo de uma ação
• 行き - Go
• たい - querer
• です - copula polida

神聖な場所に行きたいです。

Kamisē na basho ni ikitai desu

I want to go to a holy place.

• 神聖な - adjective meaning "sacred"
• 場所 - Noun that means "place"
• に - particle that indicates the target or destination of the action
• 行きたい - verb in the desejative form meaning "to want to go"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence

私は友達を連れて行きます。

Watashi wa tomodachi o tsurete ikimasu

I will take my friend together.

I take my friends.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 連れて行きます (tsurete ikimasu) - verb meaning "to take along" or "to accompany", conjugated in the present/future polite tense

私は神社に行きたいです。

Watashi wa jinja ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the sanctuary.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 神社 (jinja) - Shinto shrine
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the destination or location of an action, in this case "to"
• 行きたい (ikitai) - Verb in the form of desire that means "want to go"
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the formality of the sentence

私は毎日散歩に行きます。

Watashi wa mainichi sanpo ni ikimasu

I will walk every day.

I will walk every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 散歩 (sanpo) - noun that means "walk"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the purpose or objective of the action, in this case "go to"
• 行きます (ikimasu) - verb meaning "to go"