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:

芝居を見に行きたいです。

Shibai wo mi ni ikitai desu

I want to go see a play.

I want to go see the play.

• 芝居 (shibai) - It means "play" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - Direct object particle in Japanese
• 見 (mi) - verb "to see" in Japanese
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 行きたい (ikitai) - conjugated form of the verb "to go" with the suffix "tai", which means "to want" in Japanese
• です (desu) - The verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate a formal or polite statement.

竿を持って川に行きました。

Sao wo motte kawa ni ikimashita

I went to the river with a fishing rod.

I went to the river with a stick.

• 竿 (さお) - fishing rod
• を - direct object particle
• 持って (もって) - loading
• 川 (かわ) - river
• に - Location particle
• 行きました (いきました) - was

私は内科に行きます。

Watashi wa naika ni ikimasu

I go to the department of internal medicine.

I go to internal medicine.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 内科 - noun that means "medical clinic"
• に - particle that indicates the destination of the action, in this case "to"
• 行きます - verb that means "to go", conjugated in the polite present

文房具を買いに行きます。

Bunbōgu o kai ni ikimasu

I am going to buy office supplies.

I will buy stationery items.

• 文房具 - "文房具" (bunbougu)
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 買い - The form of the verb "comprar" in Japanese is 買う (かう, kau).
• に - destination particle in Japanese
• 行きます - The polite form of the verb "to go" in Japanese is 行きます (ikimasu).

彼女を迎えに行きます。

Kanojo wo mukae ni ikimasu

I will pick her up.

I will pick myself.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Namorada" significa "彼女" (かのじ, kanojo) em japonês.
• を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 迎え (mukae) - The verb that means "to seek" or "to receive" in Japanese is "受ける" (うける).
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 行きます (ikimasu) - The verb that means "to go" in Japanese, conjugated in the present tense is "行く" (iku).

墓参りに行きたいです。

Hakamairi ni ikitai desu

I want to go visit the grave.

I want to go to the grave.

• 墓参り - It means "to visit the grave" in Japanese. It is composed of the characters 墓 (grave) and 参り (to visit).
• に - It is a case particle in Japanese that indicates the target or destination of an action. In this case, it indicates that the purpose of the action is to "go to" the grave.
• 行きたい - It is a conjugated form of the verb 行く (iku), which means "to go." The form 行きたい (ikitai) indicates a desire or wish to go.
• です - It is a sentence-ending particle in Japanese, used to indicate courtesy or formality. In this case, it is used to make the sentence more polite.

博物館に行きたいです。

Hakubutsukan ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the museum.

I want to go to the museum.

• 博物館 (hakubutsukan) - museum
• に (ni) - particle indicating destination
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - a polite way of finishing a sentence

余所に行ってみたいです。

Yoso ni itte mitai desu

I would like to go to other places.

I want to go anywhere else.

• 余所 (yoso) - It means "another place" or "different place".
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates the target or destination of the action.
• 行ってみたい (ittemitai) - a conjugated form of the verb "iku" (to go) with the auxiliary "mitai" (want to try). It means "want to try to go".
• です (desu) - a particle that indicates the polite or respectful way of speaking.

下着を買いに行きます。

Shitagi wo kai ni ikimasu

I will buy underwear.

I will buy underwear.

• 下着 (したぎ) - underwear
• を - direct object particle
• 買い (かい) - buy
• に - target particle
• 行きます (いきます) - Go

この通りをまっすぐ行ってください。

Kono toori wo massugu itte kudasai

Please go straight ahead on this street.

Go straight down this street.

• この通り - "kono toori" means "this street".
• を - "o" is a particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• まっすぐ - "massugu" means "straight".
• 行って - "itte" is the imperative form of the verb "to go."
• ください - "kudasai" is an expression that means "please"