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:

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.

実際に行ってみなければ分からない。

Jissai ni itte minakereba wakaranai

I don't know if I really won't.

• 実際に - adverb that means "actually"
• 行って - verb form of the verb "ir" in the imperative
• みなければ - negative verbal form of the verb "see" in the conditional
• 分からない - negative verbal form of the verb "entender"

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

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)

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.

洗面所に行って顔を洗いました。

Sennmenjo ni itte kao wo araimashita

I went to the bathroom and washed my face.

• 洗面所 - It means "bathroom" or "restroom".
• に - it is a particle that indicates the place where the action occurs, in this case, "in the bathroom".
• 行って - It is the conjugation of the verb "ir" in the past, indicating that the person went to the bathroom.
• 顔 - It means "face".
• を - it is a particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "washed the face".
• 洗いました - it is the past form of the verb "lavar", indicating that the person washed their face.

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