Should I Stay or Should I Go

In this Topic, we're going to learn how to say that we're going somewhere for a specific purpose, using the pattern に行(い)く. We'll also take a more general look at に in the details section. With this knowledge, we'll be better equipped to understand and use に accurately, as well as being able to say why we are going somewhere.

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Verb + にいく

To go ~, To go in order to ~

に行(い)く is a grammar construction that is used when someone is going somewhere for the purpose of doing (A). (A) representing the verb that comes before に行(い)く. As with other uses of に, this particle is highlighting an end point or goal of 'going'.

When using this structure, it will be important to remember that (A) will appear in its stem form, before に行(い)く gets attached to the end.

This grammar point is regularly translated as 'to go in order to (A)'.

If you have already 'gone' somewhere for the purpose of doing something, then you would use '(A) に来(き)た', while at the location.

詳細

We've now met に in a couple of different contexts. Namely, to mark the destination of movement and now, to mark the purpose of movement. In addition to these, に has several other uses, so let's take a look at some of them!

The Knights Who Say に

Some of the most common uses of に are to mark the location of existence, the destination of an action, a specific point in time, a purpose, or a resultant state of change.

In all cases, we might consider に as expressing specificity and a ‘fixed point’ or 'end point' (destination, purpose, or final state).

There is no need to remember all of these uses for the moment, as we will see all of them again over time. For now, let's just remember the general sense of に, so that it is easier to understand in new contexts!