What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of shigoto (work/job), ni (a particle indicating direction or destination) and ikimasu (to go).
Which one should you use?
While 仕事に行きます focuses on the movement toward the destination, the phrase shigoto o shimasu means "I do work" or "I am working".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
仕事に行きます is a polite, standard way to state your intention or routine to others, using the -masu ending. In contrast, Shigoto ni iku yo. is an informal way to say "I go to work," and Shigoto e iku yo. can mean "I'm going to work, you know."
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form iku is used in casual conversation instead of the polite ikimasu. To express that you are currently on your way to work, you can use the continuous form 仕事に行っています (shigoto ni itte imasu).
How do you pronounce it?
shigoto ni ikimasu
Did you know?
- If you are leaving your house to go to work, you might say 行ってきます (itte kimasu) to your family, which literally translates to 'I will go and come back'.
- The word 仕事 (shigoto) is composed of the characters for 'matter' and 'duty'. In ancient Japanese, it referred more to the 'work of a craft' than a modern 9-to-5 job.
- While 仕事に行きます describes the act of going, the Japanese language has a specific word, 通勤 (tsūkin), to describe the actual commute, which translates literally as 'going to work'.
Examples in context
- 私は毎日電車で仕事に行きます。I go to work every day by train.This sentence is useful for describing your daily commute using the form 仕事に行きます.Tatoeba #1169655 by bunbuku, translation #261862 by CK
- そろそろ仕事に行きます。Sorosoro shigoto ni ikimasu.I'm going to work soon.
Example conversation
At home in the morning before leaving.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さん、準備はできましたか？Misaki-san, junbi wa dekimashita ka?Misaki, are you ready?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、今から仕事に行きます。Hai, ima kara shigoto ni ikimasu.Yes, I'm going to work now.
- 大翔 Hiroto気をつけて行ってきてください。Ki o tsukete itte kite kudasai.Please be careful and have a good day.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます、行ってきます。Arigatou gozaimasu, ittekimasu.Thank you, I'm off.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
