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:

ドライブに行きましょう。

Doraibu ni ikimashou

Let's go for a drive.

Let's go to the unit.

• ドライブ - Japanese word meaning "car ride"
• に - Japanese particle indicating the target or destination of an action
• 行きましょう - Japanese expression meaning "let's go"

ドライブに行きたいです。

Doraibu ni ikitai desu

I want to go for a car ride.

I want to go to the unit.

• ドライブ (doraibu) - means "car ride" in Japanese
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates the destination or place where something happens
• 行きたい (ikitai) - a conjugated form of the verb "ir" meaning "to want to go"
• です (desu) - a particle that indicates the polite or formal way of speaking

バンドのライブに行きたいです。

Band no raibu ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the band live.

• バンド (band) - name of a musical band
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• ライブ (raibu) - Live show
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きたい (ikitai) - "Want to go"
• です (desu) - particle that indicates politeness or formality

プリントを取りに行きます。

Purinto wo tori ni ikimasu

I will seek the impression.

I will take an impression.

• プリント - "print" in Japanese
• を - object particle
• 取り - verb form "取る" (to take)
• に - target particle
• 行きます - polite form of the verb "行く" (to go)

二人で行きましょう。

Futari de ikimashou

Let's go together, the two of us.

Let's go together.

• 二人 (futari) - It means "two people."
• で (de) - it is a particle that indicates the medium or the way something is done
• 行きましょう (ikimashou) - It is a verb that means "let's go" or "let's do"

今度は一緒に行きましょう。

Kondo wa issho ni ikimashou

Let's go together this time.

• 今度 - "this time"
• は - Topic particle
• 一緒に - Together
• 行きましょう - "let's go"

今日は遠足に行きます。

Kyou wa ensoku ni ikimasu

Today we go to an excursion.

I'm going to an excursion today.

• 今日 - today
• は - Topic particle
• 遠足 - excursion
• に - target particle
• 行きます - Go

何処に行きますか？

Doko ni ikimasu ka?

Where are you going?

Where will you go?

• 何処 - Where
• に - Particle that indicates the place where something happens
• 行きます - Go
• か - Particle that indicates a question

先先月に東京に行きました。

Sensenshū ni Tōkyō ni ikimashita

In the last month

I went to Tokyo last month.

• 先先月 - "last month"
• に - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 東京 - "Tokyo"
• に - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 行きました - "was"

公園に行きたいです。

Kouen ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the park.

• 公園 (kouen) - park
• に (ni) - particle indicating where you want to go
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - polite way to end a sentence