Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Go" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "go", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
いく
いく (iku)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
いらっしゃる
いらっしゃる (irassharu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "go" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between いく and いらっしゃる.
In Japanese, いく (いく (iku)) is typically associated with "to go" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Used for movement away from the speaker's current location. The polite form is 行きます.
On the other hand, いらっしゃる (いらっしゃる (irassharu)) maps to "to go/come/be (honorific form of 行く/来る/いる)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents An honorific verb used for superiors. It replaces 行く. A literal translation of "go" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "いく"
学校へ行きます。
I go to school.
Bilingual Context for "いらっしゃる"
先生はもう教室にいらっしゃいましたか。
Has the teacher already come to the classroom?
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "学校へ行きます。" (Meaning: "I go to school.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "いく" fits here because it means "to go" in the context of: "I go to school.". "いらっしゃる" represents "to go/come/be (honorific form of 行く/来る/いる)".