Translation and Meaning of: 行く - iku

If you are studying Japanese, you have certainly encountered the verb 行く[いく], one of the most commonly used in everyday life. It carries meanings such as "to go," "to depart," or "to follow," but its richness goes far beyond the literal translation. In this article, we will explore the etymology, practical use, and even interesting facts about this essential verb. You will also discover how to memorize it easily and understand why it is so present in daily conversations in Japan. And if you use Anki or another spaced repetition software, get ready to jot down useful examples!

Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 行く

The kanji 行, which forms the verb 行く, has a fascinating history. Originally, it represented an intersection of streets, symbolizing movement and direction. If you look at the ancient pictogram, you'll see strokes that refer to paths converging. Over time, this ideogram became associated with actions such as walking, traveling, and even carrying out tasks. It's no wonder that it appears in words like 行動 (kōdō - action) and 旅行 (ryokō - travel).

The reading いく has roots in ancient Japanese, where "yuku" was the archaic form of expressing movement. Over the centuries, the pronunciation evolved into "iku," but it has maintained the essence of displacement. A fun fact? In some regional dialects, such as Kansai, it is still possible to hear variations like "eku" or "yuku," showing how the living language preserves traces of the past.

Practical Use and Common Phrases

In everyday life, 行く is an extremely versatile verb. It can be used for both physical movements ("I go to school" - 学校に行く) and in more abstract contexts, like when something "is going well" (うまくいく). Have you noticed how the Japanese say "itte kimasu" when leaving home? This expression, which combines 行く and 来る (to come), is a great example of how the verb is rooted in culture.

Another interesting use is in the teinei (polite) form, which becomes 行きます. If you have ever taken a train in Japan, you must have heard the announcement "次に行きます" (tsugi ni ikimasu - "we will go to the next [station]"). And for anime fans, it's impossible not to notice how many times characters shout "行くぞ!" (iku zo!) before a decisive action. These small details show how the verb adapts to different situations.

Tips for Memorization and Curiosities

A foolproof way to memorize 行く is to associate it with real situations. Imagine yourself saying "スーパーに行く" (superā ni iku - I'm going to the supermarket) while shopping or "映画に行こう" (eiga ni ikō - let's go to the cinema) while planning an outing with friends. Creating these mental connections helps to embed not just the vocabulary, but also its natural usage. Another tip? Write down sentences like "どこ行くの？" (doko iku no? - where are you going?), common in informal conversations.

Did you know that 行く also appears in idiomatic expressions? "頭に血が行く" (atama ni chi ga iku) literally means "the blood goes to the head," but it's used when someone is furious. And in the song "上を向いて歩こう," a classic from the 1960s, the verb takes on a poetic tone: "歩こう" (arukō) derives from 行く, showing how it blends into art. These nuances make Japanese a language full of layers to explore.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 行く

• 行く - iku
• 行かない - ikanai
• 行きます - ikimasu
• 行きません - ikimasen
• 行って - go ahead
• 行ける - ikeru
• 行こう - ikou
• 行けば - if you go
• 行きたい - ikitai
• 行かれる - to be crazy
• 行かせる - ikaseru

Synonyms and similar words

• 行く (iku) - Please provide the text you would like to have translated.
• 進む (susumu) - advance
• 出かける (dekakeru) - Exit
• 移動する (idō suru) - Transfer, move
• 走る (hashiru) - run
• 歩く (aruku) - to walk
• 逝く (iku) - Depart, pass away
• 訪れる (otozureru) - visit
• 足を運ぶ (ashi o hakobu) - Go to visit (literally "transport the feet")
• 出発する (shuppatsu suru) - Leave, go out

行く

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

Translation / Meaning: go, leave, walk, follow, move, drive, head, move forward.

Meaning in English: to go

Definition: Change to a specific place.

Example Sentences - (行く) iku

See below some example sentences:

違う道を行く。

Chigau michi wo iku

Take a different path.

• 違う - Japanese word meaning "different" or "wrong"
• 道 - Japanese word meaning "path" or "road"
• を - Direct object particle in Japanese.
• 行く - Japanese word meaning "to go" or "to walk"
• . - punctuation mark indicating the end of the sentence

金曜日には友達と遊びに行く予定です。

Kin'yōbi ni wa tomodachi to asobi ni iku yotei desu

I have plans to go out with friends on Friday.

I plan to go play with my friends on Friday.

• 金曜日 - Friday
• には - time indication, "on Friday"
• 友達 - friends
• と - particle that indicates company, "with"
• 遊びに行く - go to have fun
• 予定 - plan, schedule
• です - verb ser/estar in the present, "is/is"

連中は私たちと一緒に行くつもりですか？

Renchuu wa watashitachi to issho ni iku tsumori desu ka?

Are you planning to come with us?

Will they go with us?

• 連中 (renchuu) - means "they" or "them all"
• は (wa) - topic particle, indicates that "they" are the subject of the sentence
• 私たち (watashitachi) - means "we"
• と (to) - particle indicating a connection or company, in this case, "with"
• 一緒に (issho ni) - means "together"
• 行く (iku) - means "to go"
• つもりですか？ (tsumori desu ka?) - expression meaning "you intend" or "you intend to"

私は明日学校に行く予定です。

Watashi wa ashita gakkou ni iku yotei desu

I have plans to go to school tomorrow.

I go to school tomorrow.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 明日 (ashita) - adverb meaning "tomorrow"
• 学校 (gakkou) - noun meaning "school"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the destination of the action, in this case "to school"
• 行く (iku) - verb meaning "to go"
• 予定 (yotei) - Noun that means "plan" or "schedule"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

スーツケースを持って旅行に行く。

Sūtsukēsu o motte ryokō ni iku

Take a trip with a suitcase.

• スーツケース - suitcase
• を - object particle
• 持って - verb "to have" conjugated in the gerund
• 旅行 - trip
• に - target particle
• 行く - verb "to go" conjugated in the present tense

一人で行く。

Hitori de iku

I go alone.

Go alone.

• 一人 - means "alone" or "alone" (feminine).
• で - is a particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done. In this case, it indicates that the person is going alone.
• 行く - means "to go".

三人で行く。

San nin de iku

Let's go in three people.

Go with three people.

• 三人 - means "three people" in Japanese.
• で - it is a particle that indicates the medium or the place where something happens.
• 行く - means "go" in Japanese.

下旬に旅行に行く予定です。

Geshun ni ryokou ni iku yotei desu

I am planning a trip for the end of the month.

I intend to take a delayed trip.

• 下旬 - Refers to the second half of the month, from the 21st until the end of the month.
• 旅行 - Trip.
• 行く - Sorry, I can’t assist with that.
• 予定 - Plan, programming.

必需品は旅行に行くときに必要です。

Hitsuyouhin wa ryokou ni iku toki ni hitsuyou desu

Essential items are needed when traveling.

Necessary items are needed when traveling.

• 必需品 - means "essential items" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 旅行 - means "journey" in Japanese
• に - destination particle in Japanese
• 行く - means "to go" in Japanese
• ときに - means "when" in Japanese
• 必要 - means "necessary" in Japanese
• です - polite way of "being" in Japanese

本部に行く予定です。

Hombu ni iku yotei desu

I intend to go to headquarters.

• 本部 (honbu) - It means "headquarters" or "main office".
• に (ni) - A noun that indicates the location where something happens.
• 行く (iku) - a verb that means "to go".
• 予定 (yotei) - means "plan" or "schedule".
• です (desu) - a particle that indicates the polite or respectful way of speaking.