日本に行く
nihon ni iku
In Japanese, the phrase for 'go to japan' is 日本に行く (nihon ni iku).
This phrase is used to describe the act of traveling to the country of Japan.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 日本 (nihon), which means 'Japan' and is composed of characters meaning 'sun' and 'origin', followed by the particle に (ni) which indicates the destination or direction of movement and the verb 行く (iku) meaning 'to go'.
Which one should you use?
The phrase 日本に行く is the standard form, but you may also see 日本へ行く (nihon e iku). Replacing the particle に with へ is grammatically correct and emphasizes the direction of travel.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite, change the verb ending from 行く (iku) to 行きます (ikimasu).
How do you pronounce it?
nihon ni iku
Did you know?
- While 日本 means 'Japan', it can also be read as にっぽん (Nippon). In many official contexts, such as at sporting events or on stamps, the more emphatic にっぽん is often preferred over the softer にほん.
- In very casual speech among friends, the particle に or へ is often dropped entirely, meaning you might just hear 日本行く (Nihon iku) in daily conversation.
- The verb 行く (iku) can sometimes be used in Japanese to imply that a person is 'going' to a certain state or condition, not just a physical location.
Examples in context
- 日本に行くことにしたの？Did you decide to go to Japan?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has decided to go to Japan.Tatoeba #10185319 by bunbuku, translation #1812967 by pne
- ２０２０年に日本に行くんだ。I will go to Japan in 2020.This sentence is useful for stating a future plan using 日本に行く.Tatoeba #9106936 by small_snow, translation #9082873 by DJ_Saidez
- 日本に行くことがあったら、ぜひ私の生まれ故郷を訪ねてみてください。If you ever go to Japan, please visit my hometown.This sentence is useful for giving a suggestion to visit a hometown if one happens to go to Japan.Tatoeba #12287121 by small_snow, translation #953951 by CK
- Nihon e ikimasu. (にほんへ いきます。)I am going to Japan.
- Nihon ni mairimasu. (にほんに まいります。)I will go to Japan.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about their dream vacations.
- 結衣 Yuiいつか日本に行くのが夢です。Itsuka Nihon ni iku no ga yume desu.My dream is to go to Japan someday.
- 蓮 Renいいですね。私も日本に行きたいです。Ii desu ne. Watashi mo Nihon ni ikitai desu.That's nice. I want to go to Japan too.
- 結衣 Yui来年こそは日本に行くつもりです。Rainen koso wa Nihon ni iku tsumori desu.I intend to go to Japan next year for sure.
- 蓮 Ren一緒に行きましょうか。Issho ni ikimashou ka.Shall we go together?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
