Translation guide
The English verb 'go' has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: movement, leaving, attending, functioning, and more. Japanese uses different verbs and patterns depending on the meaning.
To move from one place to another; to travel.
The most common verb for 'go'. Used for movement toward a destination.
学校に行く。
I go to school.
明日、東京に行きます。
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.
Humble form of 行く. Used when speaking about your own actions to someone of higher status.
明日、東京に参ります。
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow. (humble)
Honorific form of 行く. Used when speaking about someone of higher status going somewhere.
先生はもういらっしゃいましたか。
Has the teacher already gone?
To head toward a destination. Emphasizes the direction of movement.
駅に向かっている。
I'm heading to the station.
To leave a place; to go away.
Can also mean 'to leave' when context is clear.
もう行かなくちゃ。
I have to go now.
To leave a place; to exit. Often used with を.
家を出る。
I leave the house.
To leave; to depart. More formal/literary.
彼は故郷を去った。
He left his hometown.
To go to an event, place, or person for a purpose.
To operate or function properly.
To move, operate, function (intransitive). Used for machines, vehicles, etc.
この時計は動かない。
This clock doesn't work.
エンジンが動いている。
The engine is running.
To operate, activate (technical).
システムが正常に作動している。
The system is operating normally.
To change to a certain state.
Pattern: noun/na-adj + になる. Means 'to become'.
Pattern: i-adj (drop い) + くなる. Means 'to become (adjective)'.
Pattern: verb (dictionary form) + ようになる. Means 'to come to (do)' or 'to reach the state where'.
日本語が話せるようになった。
I became able to speak Japanese.
To no longer exist; to be used up.
To proceed in a certain way; to turn out.
To go well, succeed. Very common phrase.
すべてがうまくいった。
Everything went well.
うまくいかなかった。
It didn't go well.
To advance, proceed, make progress.
計画は順調に進んでいる。
The plan is going smoothly.
To express future action or intention.
Pattern: verb (dict) + つもりだ. Expresses intention: 'I'm going to...' / 'I plan to...'.
来年日本に行くつもりです。
I'm going to go to Japan next year.
Pattern: noun/verb (dict) + 予定だ. Expresses a scheduled plan.
明日出発する予定です。
I'm scheduled to depart tomorrow.
English 'go' is used in many idiomatic ways that don't use 行く in Japanese. For example, 'go crazy' is 気が狂う, not 狂うに行く. Always consider the meaning first.
気が狂いそうだ。
I'm going crazy.
行く (iku) means 'go' (away from speaker), while 来る (kuru) means 'come' (toward speaker). Be careful with perspective. If someone is coming to you, use 来る.
友達が家に来る。
A friend is coming to my house.
会議を出てもいいですか。
May I leave the meeting?
京都を訪れた。
I visited Kyoto.
明日、お宅に伺います。
I will visit your home tomorrow. (humble)