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
迎えに行く
むかえにいく (mukae ni iku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "go" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between いく and 迎えに行く.
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, 迎えに行く (むかえにいく (mukae ni iku)) maps to "to go to pick up (someone/something)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Used when you go to a place to meet and bring back a person. 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 "迎えに行く"
私は駅まで友達を迎えに行きました。
I went to the station to pick up my friend.
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.". "迎えに行く" represents "to go to pick up (someone/something)".