1. Basic structure
| Pattern | Formation with ～に行きます | Example | Notes |
|---|
| Place | Place + に/へ + 行きます | 学校へ行きます | Direction “go to” (leaving the current location) |
| Purpose (verb) | Vます-stem + に + 行きます | 映画を見に行きます | Go in order to do V |
| Purpose (noun) | N + に + 行きます | 旅行に行きます／買い物に行きます | N is an activity/event |
| サ変名詞 | N(する) + を + しに + 行きます | 練習をしに行きます | More natural expression with “しに” |
2. Main meaning & detailed analysis
- Indicates the action of “going” to another place, possibly with a purpose.
- “Vます + に + 行きます”: go to do V (watch, eat, buy, study, etc.).
- “N + に + 行きます”: go for N (when N is an activity such as 旅行, 釣り, 見学...).
- Expresses plans/near-future intentions or habits.
3. Example sentences
- 週末は京都へ行きます。
This weekend I will go to Kyoto. - 友だちと寿司を食べに行きます。
I'm going to eat sushi with a friend. - 新しい靴を買いにデパートへ行きました。
I went to the department store to buy new shoes. - 夏休みに海へ泳ぎに行きたい。
I want to go to the beach to swim during summer vacation. - 写真を撮りに公園へ行きますか。
Shall we go to the park to take photos? - 彼女を迎えに駅まで行きます。
I’ll go to the station to pick her up.
4. Usage & nuance
- Used when the destination is away from the speaker’s current location/perspective.
- Casual, neutral; can combine with volition: ～に行こう (let’s go ~).
- Schedule/plan: 来週、面接を受けに行きます (appointment).
- Combines with set activity phrases: 見に行く・遊びに行く・買いに行く・食べに行く.
5. Comparison & distinctions & similar patterns
| Pattern | Meaning | Difference | Short example |
|---|
| ～に行きます | Go to (purpose) | Direction away | 映画を見に行く |
| ～に来ます | Come (purpose) | Direction toward “here” | こちらへ手伝いに来る |
| Vて行く | “Do and then go/take (away)” or continuation toward the future | Different from “purpose”; emphasizes moving away | 持って行く／増えて行く |
| Nに行く vs Nをしに行く | Go for activity N | For サ変, “しに行く” is more natural | 勉強をしに行く |
6. Extended notes
- For activities that commonly go with “見に/聞きに/食べに/買いに/撮りに”: these are fixed, natural collocations.
- “Place + まで + 行きます” emphasizes the limit reached: 駅まで行きます (all the way to the station).
- Volitional/inviting forms: ～に行こう／～に行きませんか.
7. Variants & fixed expressions
- 見に行く・食べに行く・買いに行く・遊びに行く・撮りに行く・聞きに行く
- 迎えに行く・取りに行く・届けに行く・連れて行く
- 拾いに行く・探しに行く・申し込みに行く
8. Common mistakes & JLPT traps
- Wrong form: ×映画を見ますに行きます → ✓映画を見に行きます.
- Using a noun that is not an activity: ×花に行きます → ✓花を見に行きます／花見に行きます.
- Confusing the viewpoint with 来る: when speaking to someone at the destination, they use 来る, you use 行く.
- Forgetting “し” with サ変: ×勉強に行きます (acceptable) but more natural: ✓勉強をしに行きます.
Basic Particles & Structures
