Structure
Verb[て]+ いく
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一般
About ていく
This grammar construction is a mix of the conjunction particle て, and the verb 行く 'to go'. To use this grammar point, you will need to attach て to any verb, and then follow it with いく.
This nuance is usually that '(A) happened and then went', or 'will happen, and then go'. In other words, it will depend on whether いく is in present, or past tense.
When used in relation to time, the nuance is usually that something has already started/is about to start, and then will continue to progress in the same way.
This nuance is usually that '(A) happened and then went', or 'will happen, and then go'. In other words, it will depend on whether いく is in present, or past tense.
- 今日はうちで食べていく?Do you want to go and eat at my place tonight? (Literally 'will you', but comes across more as an invitation in casual Japanese)
- 今晩は雨が降ると聞いたから、傘を持って行った。Because I heard that it was going to rain tonight, I took an umbrella.
When used in relation to time, the nuance is usually that something has already started/is about to start, and then will continue to progress in the same way.
- 毎日ゴルフの練習をしたらだんだんと上手くなっていく。When you practice golf everyday, you will gradually get better.
Fun Fact
When compared to English, ていく is very similar to the phrase 'to go on to (A)', in relation to time. It focuses on the fact that the speaker is required to make some type of journey to arrive at a specific point. For example, 'She went on to become a doctor after university'.Synonyms
Examples
大きい音で、鳥が飛んでいく。
With a loud noise, the birds will fly away.
The birds cause a loud noise when they fly away.
これを先生に持っていってください。
Please take this to the teacher.
友達にプレゼントを買っていく。
I am going to buy a present and take it to my friend.
大丈夫!お弁当を持って行くから。
It's okay! Because I will take a lunch (bento) with me.
今日はテストを受けるから鉛筆を持っていく。
Because I am going to take a test today, I will take a pencil.
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ていく – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (14 in total)
Bugg
One of the examples for this grammar point is:
何か食べて行ってください。
and it is translated as
Please eat something before you go.
I have no idea where does before come from. Can someone explain? I can maybe explain this translation with plain て form and it’s ability to order events ( eat then go ). Is it really ていく example?
bilowik
So I understand most of these examples here, except for the very first one in the grammar lesson itself which seems very differently interpreted than the rest and threw me off for awhile, but maybe I’m misunderstanding some nuance of the phrase or translation:
今日は家で食べていく? which is translated to “Do you want to go and eat at my place tonight?”
This seems at odds with the rest of the examples since the order of actions is flipped, “go and do (A)” vs “(A) and then go” and the translation seems more akin to: 今日は家で食べに行く? since verb + に行く is usually understood as “to go and do (A).” right?
slowflo
I had the same problem with the first example but I found an answer there : 行く・来る: Japanese Verbs for "Go" and "Come"
"Japanese :
夕飯、食べていく?
English :
Would you like to have supper here?
(Literally: Are you going to eat supper and then go?)If you look at the literal meaning, it may seem a strange way of asking the question. However, by adding 行く, your friend’s mother can show she is aware that you have to leave at some point. It’s a small additional nuance, but now the question can ask if you are willing to eat dinner while you are still at their place."
So I think the example is more “do you want to eat and then go (to your home) ?”
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