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.
明日、東京に行きます。
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.
I go to school.
Humble form of 行く, used when speaking to someone of higher status about your own movement.
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow. (humble)
Honorific form of 行く, used when referring to someone of higher status going somewhere.
The teacher will go to Tokyo tomorrow. (honorific)
Means 'to go out', emphasizing leaving home or a place for a specific purpose.
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.
I'm coming over there now.
To go away from a place
Means 'to leave' a place, often with a sense of finality or formality.
He left his hometown.
Means 'to leave' or 'to exit' a room, building, or event.
Means 'to depart' on a journey, often used in travel contexts.
To go to a place habitually, such as school or work
Used for commuting or attending regularly, like school, work, or hospital.
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).
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).
The room went quiet.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to change' or 'to go from one state to another'.
How something operates or progresses
To go away, vanish, or be eliminated
Common English phrases with 'go' that have specific Japanese equivalents
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.
I'll come to your house tomorrow.
I leave the room.
I depart from Tokyo tomorrow.
The light went red.
お金がなくなった。
The money is gone.