Translation and Meaning of: 行き - iki

Have you ever wondered how the Japanese express the idea of "going" in everyday situations? The word go is one of the most common ways to indicate movement, but it goes far beyond its literal meaning. In this article, you will discover the fascinating etymology behind this term, how it is used in the Japanese language, and even tips to memorize its kanji. If you are studying Japanese, understanding Go is essential to construct sentences like "Tokyo" Go"train to Tokyo". Here at Suki Nihongo, you will also find practical examples to include in your Anki and boost your studies!

Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 行き

The kanji Go is one of those characters that carries an impressive visual story. Originally, it represented an intersection of streets, symbolizing movement and direction. In ancient China, this pictogram evolved to include the idea of "walking" or "following a path." When the Japanese adopted the kanji, they retained this sense of displacement but adapted its reading to breath in the context of the destination.

Curiously, the combination of the radical The Japanese character "彳" remains unchanged in the translation. (step) with 亍 (止まる) no kanji Go create an interesting duality: movement and pause. This explains why the same character can mean both "to go" (to go) how "line" or "business" in other contexts. Those who have seen signs at stations with Going to Osaka (destination Osaka) notice how this ideogram is ubiquitous in Japan.

Practical Use in Japanese Daily Life

In train stations, airports, and even in casual conversations, Go is essential. The Japanese use this word as a suffix to indicate direction, as in Bus to Shinjuku (bus to Shinjuku). Unlike Portuguese, where we say "bus forIn Japanese, the destination is attached to the noun. This structure can be confusing at first, but with practice, it becomes natural.

A common mistake among students is to confuse Go with come here (there doesn't even exist!). Remember: if it's about going somewhere, only Go serve. A tip? Associate the sound "iki" with "to go fast" - when you're late, say "iki, iki!" in your mind. It works like a silly but effective mnemonic!

Memory Tips and Curiosities

To never forget the kanji Go, imagine a person walking between two buildings (the vertical lines) along the sidewalk (the horizontal line). This mental image helps to fix both the writing and the meaning. Another tip is to remember that it appears in words like Action (action/behavior) and bank (bank) - places where people are always on the move.

Did you know that train announcements in Japan use Go musically? The sound alerts always end with an ascending tone when saying "...it's going.", as if they were "pushing" passengers into the carriage. Such cultural details show how the Japanese language even transforms grammar into a sensory experience."

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 行く (iku) - Please provide the text you would like to have translated.
• 出かける (dekakeru) - Leave, leave home for a specific place
• 進む (susumu) - move forward, proceed
• 移動する (idou suru) - Move, shift
• 赴く (otozureru) - Go to a place, especially for a specific task or visit.
• 旅立つ (tabidatsu) - Leave for a trip

行き

Romaji: iki
Kana: いき
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: indo

Meaning in English: going

Definition: To change/visit.

Example Sentences - (行き) iki

See below some example sentences:

別々に行きましょう。

Wakarebanashi ni ikimashou

Let's each go separately.

Let's go separately.

• 別々に - adverb that means "separately" or "individually"
• 行きましょう - verb that means "let's go" or "let's leave"

南に行きたいです。

Minami ni ikitai desu

Eu quero ir para o sul.

• 南 (Minami) - sul
• に (ni) - partícula que indica direção
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

取材に行きます。

Shuzai ni ikimasu

Vou fazer uma reportagem.

Eu irei para a entrevista.

• 取材 - significa "coleta de informações" ou "entrevista" em japonês.
• に - uma partícula japonesa que indica o alvo ou destino de uma ação.
• 行きます - é a forma educada e polida do verbo "ir" em japonês.

向かいの店に行きたいです。

Mukai no mise ni ikitai desu

Eu quero ir para a loja do outro lado.

Eu quero ir para a loja oposta.

• 向かいの店 - "Mukai no mise" significa "loja do outro lado da rua".
• に - partícula que indica o alvo da ação, neste caso "para".
• 行きたい - "ikitai" é a forma educada de dizer "quero ir".
• です - partícula que indica a formalidade da frase, neste caso "é".

図書館に行きたいです。

Toshokan ni ikitai desu

I want to go to the library.

I want to go to the library.

• 図書館 (toshokan) - biblioteca
• 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

外国に行きたいです。

Gaikoku ni ikitai desu

I want to go abroad.

• 外国 - "Foreign country"
• に - particle that indicates the target or destination of an action
• 行きたい - "Want to go"
• です - Particle indicating the polite or formal form of a sentence

天国に行きたいです。

Tengoku ni ikitai desu

Eu quero ir para o paraíso.

Eu quero ir para o céu.

• 天国 (tengoku) - Céu
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きたい (ikitai) - Querer ir
• です (desu) - Partícula que indica finalização da frase e polidez

市場に行きます。

Ichiba ni ikimasu

Vou ao mercado.

Vá ao mercado.

• 市場 (ichiba) - mercado
• に (ni) - Particle that indicates destination or location
• 行きます (ikimasu) - ir

幽霊が出るところには行きたくないです。

Yūrei ga deru tokoro ni wa ikitakunai desu

Eu não quero ir para onde os fantasmas saem.

• 幽霊 - fantasma
• が - subject particle
• 出る - aparecer
• ところ - lugar
• には - focus particle
• 行きたくない - não querer ir
• です - partícula de finalização de frase

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) - doença
• 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)