Quick Reference

Meaning & Definition

Every morning in Japan, millions of people step out the door and say ittekimasu — a phrase that does far more than announce a departure. Built into its grammar is a quiet promise: I’m going, and I will return.

Ittekimasu combines the te-form of iku (to go) with kimasu (to come), literally meaning “I will go and come back.” The phrase is spoken by the person who is leaving — whether heading to school, work, or a quick errand — and carries an implicit assurance of return. It is not used for permanent departures or one-way trips. The appropriate response from those staying behind is itterasshai (行ってらっしゃい), which acknowledges the departure and warmly wishes the person well until they return. Together, the exchange functions as a ritualized farewell that reinforces the expectation of reunion.

How to Use It

Ittekimasu and itterasshai are a matched pair: one is said by the person leaving, the other by the person remaining. Confusing the two is a common mistake for learners — remember that ittekimasu belongs to whoever is walking out the door. This phrase also pairs with the homecoming exchange: upon returning, the same person says tadaima (I’m back), and those at home reply okaeri (welcome back). These four phrases — ittekimasu, itterasshai, tadaima, okaeri — form a complete cycle of departure and return that structures daily life in Japanese households.

Kanji Breakdown

The phrase is written with two kanji: 行 (iku, to go) and 来 (kuru, to come). The character 行 originally depicted a crossroads, evoking the idea of setting out on a path. 来 was historically drawn to resemble a grain stalk bending toward the viewer, representing something approaching or arriving. In 行ってきます, these two directional concepts are fused in sequence — going out and then coming back — making the kanji themselves a visual record of the round trip.

Example Sentences

Cultural Context

The promise embedded in ittekimasu — that the speaker will return — gives the phrase a weight that a simple ‘goodbye’ lacks. In Japanese domestic life, saying ittekimasu before leaving the house and being answered with itterasshai is not merely polite habit; it is a small, repeated act of connection between household members. Skipping it can feel abrupt or even cold, as though the person is severing themselves from home rather than temporarily stepping away.

This departure ritual reflects a broader Japanese cultural value around maintaining the bonds of ie (家, the household). The home is understood as a place one leaves and returns to, not just a building. Ittekimasu marks the threshold crossing as meaningful — acknowledging those who remain and the shared expectation of reunion. Even living alone, some Japanese speakers say ittekimasu quietly to themselves, directed at no one in particular, as a way of honoring this ingrained sense of departure and return.

In formal or workplace settings, ittekimasu is used when leaving the office for an external meeting or business trip, and colleagues reply with itterasshai as a standard send-off. This usage extends the domestic ritual into professional life, preserving its core meaning: you are going somewhere on behalf of this group, and you will be back.

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