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.
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.
Humble form of 行く. Used when speaking about your own actions to someone of higher status.
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow. (humble)
Honorific form of 行く. Used when speaking about someone of higher status going somewhere.
Has the teacher already gone?
To head toward a destination. Emphasizes the direction of movement.
I'm heading to the station.
To leave a place; to go away.
To go to an event, place, or person for a purpose.
To operate or function properly.
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)'.
It got cold.
Pattern: verb (dictionary form) + ようになる. Means 'to come to (do)' or 'to reach the state where'.
I became able to speak Japanese.
To no longer exist; to be used up.
To proceed in a certain way; to turn out.
To express future action or intention.
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.
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.
A friend is coming to my house.
I leave the house.
May I leave the meeting?
He left his hometown.
I visited Kyoto.
明日、お宅に伺います。
I will visit your home tomorrow. (humble)
You've gotten big, haven't you?
The pain went away.
The plan is going smoothly.