Quick Reference

Meaning & Definition

Iku (行く) means ‘to go’ and is one of the first verbs taught to Japanese learners. It describes movement from current location to another place—the opposite of kuru (to come).

Iku is a regular u-verb meaning ‘to go,’ ‘to leave,’ or ‘to travel.’ It’s used when the speaker is going somewhere or talking about someone going away: gakkou ni iku (go to school), nihon ni iku (go to Japan). Iku emphasizes leaving from a starting point and moving toward a destination. Used in progressives: mou iku zo (about to go), itte kita (went and came back). Iku also means ‘to proceed’ or ‘to advance in time’: jikan ga iku (time passes). The particle structure is crucial: ni iku (to go to a place), made iku (go as far as). Iku is fundamental to discussing movement and daily routines.

How to Use It

Iku is a u-verb: ik-anai (doesn’t go), it-ta (went), ik-ou (will go). Word order: place + ni + iku. Common usage: ‘ashita iku’ (will go tomorrow), ‘issho ni iku’ (go together). Don’t confuse iku (to go away) with kuru (to come toward speaker). The particle ‘ni’ after destination location is essential. Mixed up tenses: ittekita vs. iku vs. itta have different meanings related to aspect.

Kanji Breakdown

行 (iku) originally depicted a crossroads or junction, representing movement and direction.

Example Sentences

Cultural Context

Iku is central to Japanese daily communication. Japanese travel culture (ryokou) emphasizes visiting temples, natural sites, and cultural landmarks—all expressed with iku.

The relationship between iku (to go) and kaeru (to return) reflects Japanese cultural concepts of journey and home. These verbs frame how Japanese people conceptualize movement and belonging.

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