What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 日本 (Nihon, meaning Japan), the particle に (ni, meaning to or towards) and 行きたい (ikitai, meaning want to go).
Which one should you use?
The default form 日本に行きたい uses the particle に to indicate the destination. You can replace に with へ (pronounced 'e') to form 日本へ行きたい. This is also grammatically correct and places more emphasis on the direction toward Japan. In very casual speech, the particle can be omitted entirely to say 日本行きたい.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle に indicates the destination or direction of the movement. To make the phrase polite and suitable for speaking to strangers or superiors, add です to the end of the verb to get 行きたいです. If you want to express the negative "I do not want to go", change the ending to 行きたくない. To express the past tense "I wanted to go", change the ending to 行きたかった.
How do you pronounce it?
Nihon ni ikitai
Did you know?
- The word 日本 literally means 'origin of the sun'. This is why Japan is famously known in English as the 'Land of the Rising Sun'.
- In Japanese social etiquette, stating your own desires using 〜たい (want to) can sometimes sound too direct or selfish. To be more humble, speakers often use the phrase 〜たいと思っています (I am thinking that I want to).
- While 日本 is usually read as 'Nihon', it is sometimes pronounced 'Nippon'. This version is more formal and is the one used on Japanese banknotes and postage stamps.
Examples in context
- いつか日本に行きたい。I want to go to Japan someday.This sentence is useful for expressing the desire to visit Japan at some point in the future.Tatoeba #5070732 by 999yudai, translation #5071626 by mactrey
- すみません、日本へ行きたいと思っています。ご一緒できると嬉しいです。Excuse me, I'm thinking of going to Japan. I would be delighted if we could go together.
- 日本に行きたいな。一緒に行かない？I wanna go to Japan. Won't you come with me?
- 来年、日本に行きたいです。rainen, nihon ni ikitai desu.I want to go to Japan next year.
- どうしても日本に行きたい！doushitemo nihon ni ikitai!I really want to go to Japan!
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are talking about their dream vacations.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くんはどこか旅行したい？Yōta-kun wa dokoka ryokō shitai?Yota, do you want to travel somewhere?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、日本に行きたいと思ってるよ。Un, Nihon ni ikitai to omotte iru yo.Yeah, I'm thinking I want to go to Japan.
- 結衣 Yuiいいな！私も日本に行きたい！Ii na! Watashi mo Nihon ni ikitai!That's great! I want to go to Japan too!
- 陽太 Yotaじゃあ、一緒に行こうか。Jā, issho ni ikō ka.Well, shall we go together?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
