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:

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"

私は銀行に行きます。

Watashi wa ginkou ni ikimasu

I go to the bank.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 銀行 (ginkou) - noun that means "bank"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the target of the action, in this case "to"
• 行きます (ikimasu) - verb meaning "to go"

私は今夜映画を見に行きます。

Watashi wa kon'ya eiga o mi ni ikimasu

I'm going to watch a movie tonight.

I will watch a movie tonight.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 今夜 (kon'ya) - adverb meaning "tonight"
• 映画 (eiga) - noun meaning "film"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "movie"
• 見に行きます (mi ni ikimasu) - a phrase that means "to go to watch", in this case, "I am going to watch the movie"

私はスクールに行きます。

Watashi wa sukūru ni ikimasu

I'm going to school.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• スクール (sukuuru) - katakana word meaning "school"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the destination or place where something happens, in this case, "to school"
• 行きます (ikimasu) - verb meaning "to go" or "to walk", conjugated in the present affirmative

私たちは海水浴に行きます。

Watashitachi wa kaisuiyoku ni ikimasu

We go to the beach.

We go to the sea bath.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 海水浴 - sea bath
• に - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きます - verb "to go" in the present

絵の具を買いに行きます。

E no gu wo kai ni iki masu

I will buy paint.

I'm going to buy paint.

• 絵の具 (e no gu) - paint for painting
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 買い (kai) - Shopping
• に (ni) - target particle
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Go

自転車で学校に行きます。

Watashi wa jitensha de gakkou ni ikimasu

I go to the bicycle school.

• 自転車 (jitensha) - bicycle
• で (de) - by means of, using
• 学校 (gakkou) - school
• に (ni) - towards, towards
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Go