LEARN + JAPANESE / 106 of 186 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.”
I'm going to the coffee shop to drink coffee.
I'm going home to get something I forgot.
Hint · 힌트
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.
I'm going to the department store to buy cake.
I'm going to Asakusa to see the temple.
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
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| to borrow | |
| to return (something) | |
| to take (a photo) | |
| shaved ice | |
| flower | |
| to go meet, pick up | |
| to search for | |
| Akihabara | |
| Shibuya | |
| Asakusa | |
| Roppongi | |
| temple | |
| a forgotten item | |
| to come over to hang out | |
| purpose | |
| errand | |
| to drop by | |
| to go out | |
| to return home | |
| to head out |
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