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:

キャンプに行きたいです。

Kyampu ni ikitai desu

I want to go camping.

I want to go to the camp.

• キャンプ (kyanpu) - camping
• に (ni) - destination or location indication
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - polite way to end a sentence

インクを買いに行きます。

Inku wo kai ni ikimasu

I'm going to buy paint.

• インク (ink) - Noun that means ink in Japanese.
• を (wo) - Object particle that indicates that the previous noun is the object of the action.
• 買い (kai) - Noun that means purchase in Japanese.
• に (ni) - Destination particle indicating the place where the action is being directed
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Verb that means to go in Japanese, conjugated in the present affirmative

エレガントなドレスを着てパーティーに行きます。

Elegant na doresu wo kite paatii ni ikimasu

I go to a party wearing an elegant dress.

• エレガントな - elegant
• ドレス - dress
• を - direct object particle
• 着て - dressing (gerund verb)
• パーティー - party
• に - target particle
• 行きます - go

お八つ目の神社に行きたいです。

O hachitsume no jinja ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the eighth sanctuary.

I want to go to the eighth sanctuary.

• お八つ目 - eighth
• の - Possession particle
• 神社 - Shinto shrine
• に - target particle
• 行きたい - want to go
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

この列車は直通で東京まで行きます。

Kono ressha wa chokutsū de Tōkyō made ikimasu

This train goes directly to Tokyo.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 列車 - noun meaning "train"
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 直通 - adjective meaning "direct"
• で - grammatical particle that indicates the means or instrument used
• 東京 - noun meaning "Tokyo"
• まで - grammatical particle that indicates the limit or scope of an action
• 行きます - verb meaning "to go"

ショーを見に行きたいです。

Shō wo mi ni ikitai desu

I want to go see the show.

• ショー (shō) - show
• を (wo) - particle indicando o objeto direto de uma frase
• 見 (mi) - to see
• に (ni) - partícula indicando o propósito ou destino de uma ação
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - The polite copula indicating the end of a sentence in Japanese is "です" (desu).

タクシーで空港に行きます。

Takushii de kuukou ni ikimasu

I go to the airport by taxi.

Go to the airport by taxi.

• タクシー (takushii) - Táxi
• で (de) - by means of, using
• 空港 (kuukou) - airport
• に (ni) - towards, towards
• 行きます (ikimasu) - Go

デートに行きたいです。

Dēto ni ikitai desu

I want to go to a date.

I want to go to a date.

• デート - romantic date
• に - particle that indicates destination or direction
• 行きたい - want to go
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

デパートに行きたいです。

Depāto ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the mall.

I want to go to a department store.

• デパート (Depāto) - department store
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

トイレに行きたいです。

Toire ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the bathroom.

• トイレ (toire) - Restroom
• に (ni) - particle indicating location
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - Sentence-ending particle