Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
The structure V-ていく combines the V-te form with the verb 行く (iku, to go). It primarily expresses two concepts: 1) Movement away from the speaker while performing an action, and 2) Continuation or progression of a state or action into the future.
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate physical movement away from a point of reference (usually the speaker) or to express temporal progression/continuation toward the future.
📋 Grammar Structure
V-て form + いく (iku)
N/A (Attaches only to verbs)
N/A (Attaches only to verbs)
V-ないで + いく OR V-て + いかない
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used naturally in formal reports or discussions to describe future trajectories or plans (e.g., 計画を進めていく).
Informal Situations
Extremely common in daily conversation to talk about leaving, coming back later, or future aspirations.
Written Language
Appears frequently in narrative to show physical movement and in essays/reports to discuss future policy or change.
Spoken Language
Highly frequent, essential for discussing travel, movement, and future direction.
💡 Common Applications
Movement Away from the Speaker/Origin
Indicates an action (flying) is performed while moving in a direction away from the speaker or the point of reference.
Example: 鳥は空へ飛び立っていった。 (Tori wa sora e tobitatte itta.)
Future Continuation or Progression
Indicates that a state, action, or change (preserving the tradition) will continue or progress into the future. Used often for plans or trends.
Example: この伝統を守っていきたい。 (Kono dentō o mamotte ikitai.)
Action Done and Left Behind
Implies that an action (placing the key) was completed just before the subject left the location.
Example: 鍵をテーブルに置いていった。 (Kagi o tēburu ni oite itta.)
Frequency
Very High
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N4/N3)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
子供たちは公園の方へ走っていった。
Furigana: こどもたちはこうえんのほうへはしっていった。
Romaji: Kodomo-tachi wa kōen no hō e hashitte itta.
English: The children ran off toward the park.
Example #2
このまま練習を続けていけば、必ず成功する。
Furigana: このままれんしゅうをつづけていけば、かならずせいこうする。
Romaji: Kono mama renshū o tsuzukete ikeba, kanarazu seikō suru.
English: If we keep continuing practice like this, we will surely succeed.
Example #3
彼は「また明日」と言って、帰っていった。
Furigana: かれは「またあした」といって、かえっていった。
Romaji: Kare wa “Mata ashita” to itte, kaette itta.
English: He said “See you tomorrow” and went home.
Example #4
来月からは新しいプロジェクトを始めていくつもりだ。
Furigana: らいげつからはあたらしいプロジェクトをはじめていくつもりだ。
Romaji: Raigetsu kara wa atarashii purojekuto o hajimete iku tsumori da.
English: I plan to start a new project from next month.
Example #5
太陽がゆっくりと山に沈んでいく。
Furigana: たいようがゆっくりとやまにしずんでいく。
Romaji: Taiyō ga yukkuri to yama ni shizunde iku.
English: The sun is slowly setting behind the mountains.
Example #6
日本語の勉強は、だんだん難しくなっていくでしょう。
Furigana: にほんごのべんきょうは、だんだんむずかしくなっていくでしょう。
Romaji: Nihongo no benkyō wa, dandan muzukashiku natte iku deshō.
English: Japanese study will probably gradually become more difficult.
Example #7
財布を家に忘れていってしまった。
Furigana: さいふをいえにわすれていってしまった。
Romaji: Saifu o ie ni wasurete itte shimatta.
English: I forgot my wallet at home and left. (The action was done, and I moved away.)
Example #8
これからも日本で働いていきたいです。
Furigana: これからもにほんでひたらいていきたいです。
Romaji: Korekara mo Nihon de hataraite ikitai desu.
English: I want to keep working in Japan from now on.
Example #9
AI技術は今後もどんどん進化していくでしょう。
Furigana: エーアイぎじゅつはこんごもどんどんしんかしていくでしょう。
Romaji: AI gijutsu wa kongo mo dondon shinka shite iku deshō.
English: AI technology will continue to rapidly evolve from now on.
Example #10
気をつけて、早く行って！
Furigana: きをつけて、はやくおこなさい！
Romaji: Ki o tsukete, hayaku itte!
English: Look after yourself and go quickly!
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Focus on Direction and Progression
The key distinction is directionality: ていく implies moving *away* or progressing *forward* in time. This is the opposite of V-てくる, which means moving *toward* the speaker or starting from the past up to the present.
Example: 彼はお金を払っていく。 (Kare wa okane o haratte iku.)
Auxiliary Functionality
The meaning of the main verb is maintained, and いく adds the nuance of ‘continuing’ or ‘moving away.’ For example, 働く (hataraku, to work) + ていく = ‘to keep working (into the future).’
Example: これからもっと頑張っていこう！ (Korekara motto ganbatte ikō!)
Describing Gradual Change
This form is often used to describe natural or predictable changes that occur over time, focusing on the future state.
Example: だんだん寒くなっていきます。 (Dandan samuku natte ikimasu.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 彼は傘を持っていく。 (If the speaker is the one receiving the umbrella.)
✅ Use V-てくる (te kuru).
V-ていく must always show movement *away* from the speaker or the current state. When the action approaches, V-てくる is required.
❌ 今、私は日本語を勉強していく。 (For “I am studying Japanese now.”)
✅ Use V-ている (te iru).
V-ていく is for progression *into the future*. For actions that are simply ongoing *now* (e.g., “He is running now”), V-ている is the correct form.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. The overall politeness depends on the preceding verb and the tense of 行く (e.g., 行きます is polite).
Social Situations: Crucial when talking about long-term goals, future projections, or travel plans in social and professional settings.
Regional Variations: Standard usage across Japan. However, in rapid speech, the ‘t’ sound in the ‘te’ form and the ‘i’ in ‘iku’ can sometimes be blended.
🔍 Subtle Differences
V-ていく vs. V-てくる
V-ていく: Action moving away/forward in time. V-てくる: Action moving toward the speaker/starting in the past and continuing to the present.
When to use: Use ていく when the subject is leaving or the action is extending into the future. Use てくる when the subject is approaching or the action is extending to the present.
V-ていく vs. V-続ける (tsuzukeru)
V-ていく: Emphasizes the *trajectory* or *process* of continuation. V-続ける: Simply emphasizes the *act* of continuing without interruption.
When to use: Use V-ていく when discussing a plan, goal, or natural progression. Use V-続ける when stressing persistence or uninterrupted duration.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The main verb must be in the て-form. The verb 行く (iku) conjugates normally to show tense (e.g., 行った for past, 行きたい for desire, 行かない for negative future).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Ensure smooth connection between the V-te form and いく. For example, ‘hashitte’ (はしって) and ‘iku’ (いく) should flow together naturally. The ‘t’ sound in the て-form is typically clearly pronounced.
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate the sound ‘iku’ to the English ‘go.’ When you use V-te iku, you are doing the verb and ‘going’ (either physically or temporally into the future).
Other Grammar
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