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にいく
N5 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today
ni iku
go to do
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🃏 Flashcard
にいく
ni iku
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go to do
N5
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading ni iku
Post ID 50649
Patterns today 0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes

go to do

📖 How to use it

Expresses going somewhere in order to do an action.

Attaches to Attach to the ます-stem (the form used with ます) of a verb. For example, たべます -> たべにいく (go to eat).

This pattern is used when you go to a place for the purpose of doing an action. It combines the ます-stem of a verb with に and the verb いきます (to go). The place you go to is often mentioned with へ or に before the pattern, but it's not always necessary if the context is clear.

For example, if you say スーパーへ かいものに いきます, it means you go to the supermarket in order to shop. The verb かいます (to buy) becomes かいもの (shopping), but more commonly you use the ます-stem directly like たべに, のみに, あそびに.

This is a very common and natural pattern in everyday Japanese. You can use it for any action: going to eat, going to drink, going to play, going to meet someone, etc. Remember that the action verb must be in its ます-stem form.

あした ともだちに あいに いきます。
Ashita tomodachi ni ai ni ikimasu.
Tomorrow I will go to meet my friend.
スーパーへ たべものを かいに いきます。
Supaa e tabemono o kai ni ikimasu.
I will go to the supermarket to buy food.
こうえんに あそびに いきませんか。
Kouen ni asobi ni ikimasen ka.
Shall we go to the park to play?
Not にくる (ni kuru) Use にいく when the movement is away from the speaker (go), and にくる when the movement is toward the speaker (come). For example, スーパーに かいものに いきます (I go to the supermarket) vs. うちに あそびに きます (He comes to my house to play).
Register Neutral and used in both spoken and written Japanese. In casual speech, いきます becomes いく.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
にいく
📚 How to Master This Pattern
🔊
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat にいく three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
🃏
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
✍️
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using にいく. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
⏰
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
たことがある
ta koto ga aru
to have done something before
じゃない・ではない
janai / dewa nai
to not be (am not; is not; are not)
なくてはならない
nakute wa naranai
must do; need to do
方
kata
the way of doing something; how to do
も
mo
too; also; as well
を
o / wo
object marker particle
← Previous
に
destination particle; in; at; on; to
Next →
にする
to decide on
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern にいく mean? ▼
Go to do
What JLPT level is にいく? ▼
Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use にいく in a sentence? ▼
Attach にいく (ni iku) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is にいく formal or casual Japanese? ▼
にいく is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember にいく long-term? ▼
Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.