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:

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

Vamos juntos os dois.

Vamos juntos.

• 二人 (futari) - significa "duas pessoas"
• で (de) - é uma partícula que indica o meio ou a maneira como algo é feito
• 行きましょう (ikimashou) - é um verbo que significa "vamos" ou "vamos fazer"

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 - "juntos"
• 行きましょう - "vamos"

今日は遠足に行きます。

Kyou wa ensoku ni ikimasu

Hoje vamos em uma excursão.

Estou indo para uma excursão hoje.

• 今日 - hoje
• は - Topic particle
• 遠足 - excursão
• に - target particle
• 行きます - ir

何処に行きますか？

Doko ni ikimasu ka?

Where are you going?

Where will you go?

• 何処 - onde
• に - Particle that indicates the place where something happens
• 行きます - ir
• 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 - "Tóquio"
• に - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 行きました - "foi"

公園に行きたいです。

Kouen ni ikitai desu

Eu quero ir ao parque.

• 公園 (kouen) - parque
• に (ni) - partícula que indica o local onde se deseja ir
• 行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
• です (desu) - forma educada de finalizar uma frase

六月に日本に行きます。

Rokugatsu ni Nihon ni ikimasu

I will go to Japan in June.

• 六月 - junho
• に - Time or location indication
• 日本 - Japan
• に - Time or location indication
• 行きます - will (verb to go in the future)

再来月に日本に行きます。

Sairai tsuki ni Nihon ni ikimasu

I go to Japan next month.

I will go to Japan again next month.

• 再来月 (sairaimotsuki) - means "next month again" or "the month following the next one."
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates destination or location.
• 日本 (nihon) - the name of the country Japan.
• に (ni) - again, the particle that indicates the destination or location.
• 行きます (ikimasu) - the verb "to go" in the present/future polite.

再来年に日本に行きたいです。

Sairainen ni Nihon ni ikitai desu

I want to go to Japan next year.

I want to go to Japan again next year.

• 再来年 (sairainen) - means "in the following year" or "two years from now".
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates destination or location.
• 日本 (nihon) - the name of the country Japan.
• に (ni) - again, the particle that indicates the destination or location.
• 行きたい (ikitai) - means "to want to go".
• です (desu) - a particle that indicates the conclusion of the sentence and is used to express politeness.