How can I say in Japanese “I go to see a movie this Sunday”?
Movement for an aim
When we want to say that wego somewhere and do something there,
Verb (masu-form) + に + movement verb
is typically used in Japanese.
Here, “movement verb” means “move from A to B” like:
- 行く: iku: to go
- 来る: kuru: to come
- 戻る: modoru: to return
- 帰る: kaeru: to go home
So, for example, the phrase
日曜日、映画を見ます。
Nichiyoo bi, eiga wo mi masu.
I watch a movie on Sunday.
lacks the information if we watch the movie at home or somewhere else.
But, if we say,
日曜日、映画を見に行きます。
Nichiyoobi, eiga wo mi ni iki masu.
I go to see a movie on Sunday.
we can clearly transfer the information which we go somewhere and see a movie there.
To go
- 行く: iku
- 行きます: iki masu
To see / watch
- 見る: miru
- 見ます: mi masu
- 見に行きます: mi ni ikimasu
See also: How to make Masu-form
Another example is like:
寝に帰ります。
Ne ni kaeri masu.
I go home to sleep.
To sleep
- 寝る: neru
- 寝ます: ne masu
- 寝に帰ります: ne ni kaeri masu
To go home
帰る: kaeru
帰ります: kaeri masu
(Important) Add a place information
If you want to add a place information to
Verb (masu-form) + に + movement verb
it must be
place +へ(orに)
place + e (or ni)
AND NEVER “place + で (de)”!
So for example,
日本へ日本語を勉強しに来ました。
Nihon e nihongo wo benkyoo shi ni ki mashita.
I came to Japan to study Japanese.
To study
- 勉強する: benkyoo suru
- 勉強します: benkyoo shi masu
- 勉強しに来ました: benkyoo shi ni ki masihta
To come
- 来る: kuru
- 来ます: ki masu
That is because the main meaning of this grammar pattern
Verb (masu-form) + に + movement verb
comes to “movement verb” part.
And when we talk about the movement (from A to B), へ(e) or に(ni) is used for a destination information.
See also: へ・に : destination
A small summary:
- Action place: place + で
- Destination: place + へ (に)
日本で勉強します。
Nihon de benkyoo shi masu.
I study in Japan.
日本へ行きます。
Nihon e iki masu.
I go to Japan.
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