LEARN + JAPANESE / Note 160 JLPT N4

Going Somewhere to Do It (に + 行く・来る・帰る)

A verb’s stem, the part right before ます, followed by に and then 行く, 来る, or 帰る, names the purpose behind the trip, “go/come/return home in order to X.”

In Real Life
飲む becomes 飲みに, 取る becomes 取りに, attaching to the same verb stem you’ve used for たい, たがる, and すぎる. The destination takes へ or に as usual; the purpose sits right before 行く/来る/帰る as its own separate piece.
In Real Life
する-verbs drop する entirely before に, leaving just the noun, カラオケをしに行きます can be shortened to カラオケしに行きます in casual speech, though both are used. This pattern is extremely common for describing errands and outings, one of the most natural ways to explain why you’re headed somewhere.

Vocabulary

JapaneseEnglish