0089 – Japanese basics (N5-N3) – に行く①: Go to V

 

 

Movement for an aim

 

When we want to say that we go 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.