行ってきます
ittekimasu
The Japanese phrase for "here I go" is 行ってきます (ittekimasu).
This phrase is used specifically when leaving one's home or a place of residence to go out, implying a temporary departure.
Which one should you use?
While 行ってきます is the standard polite form, 行ってくる is a shorter version used in casual settings. For very informal situations, you might hear 行くよ or 行っちゃうよ. In contrast, 行ってまいります serves as a formal expression of the phrase.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use 行ってまいります. In informal settings, such as with friends or family, you can use 行ってくる, 行くよ or 行っちゃうよ.
How do you pronounce it?
ittekimasu
When do people say it?
When someone says 行ってきます, the standard response is 行ってらっしゃい, which means "Please go and come back" or "See you later".
Did you know?
- Even if no one is home to hear it, many Japanese people still say 行ってきます out loud to the empty house before departing.
- The phrase 行ってきます literally translates to 'I will go and come back'. It implies that the departure is only a temporary absence and that your return is already a certainty.
- In traditional Japanese households, saying 行ってきます is often accompanied by a small bow. This gesture shows respect to the household and the people staying behind.
Examples in context
- 行ってきます。ittekimasu.Here I go.
- では、行ってきます。dewa, ittekimasu.Well, here I go.
- 朝、家を出る時に「行ってきます」と言いました。asa, ie o deru toki ni 'ittekimasu' to iimashita.I said, "Here I go," when I left the house this morning.
Example conversation
Ren is leaving for work in the morning.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵、行ってきます。Himari, ittekimasu.Himari, here I go.
- 陽葵 Himariいってらっしゃい、蓮さん。itterasshai, Ren-san.Have a good day, Ren.
- 蓮 Ren仕事、頑張るよ。shigoto, ganbaru yo.I will do my best at work.
- 陽葵 Himari気をつけてね。ki o tsukete ne.Take care.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 行ってきます, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
