What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of soko (there), ni (to/at) and ikitai (want to go).
Which one should you use?
While そこに行きたい is the standard form, you can use そこに行きたいよ！ to add emphasis in an informal way or あの場所に行きたいな for a softer, more casual expression of your desire. For more formal situations, そちらに行きたいです or あの場所に行きたいと思っております are used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The dictionary form そこに行きたい is used in casual conversation with friends or family. To be polite when speaking to acquaintances or superiors, use the form そこに行きたいです.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai dialect, one way to say "I want to go there" is そこに行きたいわ.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding desu to the end of ikitai (as in 行きたいです) makes the phrase polite. If you wish to express the opposite, the negative form is そこに行きたくない, which means "I don't want to go there".
How do you pronounce it?
soko ni ikitai
Did you know?
- If you use 行きたい to talk about someone else's desire, like 'he wants to go', it is grammatically incorrect. In Japanese, you cannot directly state another person's internal feelings, so you must use a different structure to imply what they might be thinking.
- In very formal settings, instead of saying they 'want' to go, Japanese people may use the phrase 伺いたい (ukagaitai) to humbly describe their movement toward a superior's location.
- When expressing a desire to go somewhere, Japanese speakers often avoid using the word 'I' (わたし) entirely. Because the grammar of 行きたい implies the desire belongs to the speaker, adding a pronoun can actually sound unnatural or overly assertive.
Examples in context
- そこに行きたい。I want to go there.This example shows the use of そこに行きたい.Tatoeba #8647185 by small_snow, translation #2011409 by CK
- ビーチに行きたいよ！I want to go to the beach!
- 名古屋の美術館に行きたいな。I want to go to the art museum in Nagoya.
- いつかそこに行きたい。itsuka soko ni ikitai.I want to go there someday.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a travel magazine at a cafe.
- 蓮 Renこの島、すごく綺麗だよ。kono shima, sugoku kirei da yo.This island is really beautiful.
- 陽葵 Himariわあ、そこに行きたい！waa, soko ni ikitai!Wow, I want to go there!
- 蓮 Ren一緒に行こうか？issho ni ikou ka?Shall we go together?
- 陽葵 Himariぜひ行こう！zehi ikou!Let's definitely go!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
