～に行く
To go ~, To go in order to ~
Structure
Explanation
The pattern に行く is used to express that the reason for going to a place is to perform an action (A). The verb (A) directly precedes に行く. The particle に in this context marks the objective or purpose of the movement.
To form this pattern, the verb (A) must be changed into its stem form (the form without ます). に行く is then added directly after this stem.
- 泳ぎに行く。To go swimming. (Swimming is the reason for going)
- レストランに昼ごはんを食べに行きます。I'm going to go to the restaurant to eat lunch. (Eating is the purpose for going)
In English, this expression often translates to 'to go to do (A)'.
To express that someone has come to a location with a specific purpose, you can use (A) に来た following the verb stem.
- 田中さんが私を手伝いに来たよ。Mr. Tanaka came by to help me.
Examples
歌を歌いにいく。
To go sing a song. (to go in order to sing)
散歩をしにいく。
To go for a walk. (to go in order to do)
夕食を料理しにいきます。
I will go cook dinner. (to go in order to cook)
プールへ泳ぎにいった。
I went to swim at the pool. (to go in order to swim)
ＤＶＤを借りにいきます。
I will go borrow a DVD. (to go in order to borrow)
写真を撮りにいく。
To go take pictures. (to go in order to take)
友達に会いにいった。
I went to meet a friend.
洗濯をしにいく。
To go do the laundry. (to go in order to do)
魚を釣りにいくのが好き。
I like to go fishing. (to go in order to fish)
あのホテルに、泊まりにいった。
I went to stay at that hotel. (went in order to stay)
荷物を取りにいった。
I went to pick up the package. (went in order to pick up)
歩いて郵便局に手紙を出しにいく。
To go mail a letter at the post office on foot. (to go in order to mail)
ちょっと踊りにいきます。
(I)'m going to go dance for a bit.