Translation guide
The English verb 'to go' covers movement, departure, change of state, and many idiomatic uses. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 行く (iku), but the best choice depends on direction, politeness, and whether the movement is toward or away from the speaker. This guide organizes the main meanings and natural Japanese expressions for English-speaking learners.
General physical movement to a destination
The most common and neutral verb for 'to go'. Used when the speaker moves away from their current location.
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.
学校に行く。
I go to school.
Humble form of 行く, used when speaking to someone of higher status about your own movement.
明日、東京に参ります。
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow. (humble)
Honorific form of 行く, used when referring to someone of higher status going somewhere.
先生は明日、東京にいらっしゃいます。
The teacher will go to Tokyo tomorrow. (honorific)
Means 'to go out', emphasizing leaving home or a place for a specific purpose.
買い物に出かける。
I go out shopping.
Movement that brings someone or something closer to the speaker
In Japanese, movement toward the speaker is expressed with 来る (come), not 行く. English 'go' in 'go to someone' often becomes 来る.
English 'go to you' often sounds unnatural in Japanese; use 行く only if the speaker is not currently with the listener and is moving to the listener's location. If the speaker is already with the listener, use 来る.
今、そっちに行くよ。
I'm coming over there now.
明日、あなたの家に行きます。
I'll come to your house tomorrow.
To go away from a place
Means 'to leave' a place, often with a sense of finality or formality.
彼は故郷を去った。
He left his hometown.
Means 'to leave' or 'to exit' a room, building, or event.
部屋を出る。
I leave the room.
Means 'to depart' on a journey, often used in travel contexts.
明日、東京を発ちます。
I depart from Tokyo tomorrow.
To go to a place habitually, such as school or work
Used for commuting or attending regularly, like school, work, or hospital.
毎日、学校に通っています。
I go to school every day.
To go from one condition to another, often with adjectives
For i-adjectives, replace い with くなる to express 'become' or 'go (adjective)'. E.g., 寒い → 寒くなる (go cold).
寒くなった。
It went cold.
For na-adjectives and nouns, add になる to express 'become' or 'go (state)'. E.g., 静か → 静かになる (go quiet).
部屋が静かになった。
The room went quiet.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to change' or 'to go from one state to another'.
How something operates or progresses
Means 'to go forward', 'to proceed', or 'to advance'.
計画は順調に進んでいる。
The plan is going smoothly.
A common phrase meaning 'to go well' or 'to be successful'.
すべてがうまくいった。
Everything went well.
To go away, vanish, or be eliminated
Common English phrases with 'go' that have specific Japanese equivalents
Said when leaving home, meaning 'I'm going and will come back'.
行ってきます！
I'm off! (See you later)
Response to 行ってきます, meaning 'Go and come back safely'.
行ってらっしゃい。
See you later! (to someone leaving)
Often used where English says 'go for it' or 'go on'.
がんばって！
Go for it!
English 'go' is used in many phrasal verbs and idioms that do not use 行く in Japanese. For example, 'go on' (continue) is 続ける, 'go out' (date) is 付き合う, and 'go through' (experience) is 経験する. Always consider the meaning first.
Japanese distinguishes movement away from the speaker (行く) and toward the speaker (来る). English 'go' can sometimes be used for movement toward the listener, but Japanese requires 来る if the speaker is already with the listener or the movement is toward the speaker's in-group.
The light went red.
The money is gone.