After learning basic sentence patterns, it's time to start moving — 行きます (go), 来ます (come), 帰ります (return). These three are the most frequently used movement verbs at N5, but the real challenge isn't the verbs themselves — it's the particles they pair with.
Three Core Movement Verbs
| Japanese | Reading | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行きます | いきます | Go | 日本へ行きます。 |
| 来ます | きます | Come | 友達が来ます。 |
| 帰ります | かえります | Return (home/base) | 家に帰ります。 |
帰ります doesn't mean "go back" in general — it specifically means returning to your home base (home, home country, or workplace). You wouldn't use 帰ります for revisiting a tourist spot; you'd say また行きます (go again).
Particle 1: に / へ — Destination
To express "where you're going," use に or へ. With movement verbs, they're nearly interchangeable:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 日本に行きます。 | I'm going to Japan. |
| 日本へ行きます。 | I'm going to Japan. |
| 家に帰ります。 | I'm going home. |
| 家へ帰ります。 | I'm going home. |
Is there a difference between に and へ?
Strictly speaking, there's a subtle nuance, but at N5 level you can treat them as identical:
| に | へ | |
|---|---|---|
| Nuance | Emphasizes the destination point | Emphasizes the direction of movement |
| Usage | More common in conversation | Slightly more formal/written |
| Practical difference | Almost none at N5 |
A case where you might feel the difference:
- 東京に行きます → I'm going to Tokyo (emphasis: Tokyo is the destination)
- 東京へ行きます → I'm heading toward Tokyo (emphasis: the direction)
In exams and daily conversation, both are correct. Pick one as your default — most people use に.
Particle 2: で — Transportation / Means
To express "how you get there," use で:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 電車で行きます。 | I go by train. |
| バスで帰ります。 | I go home by bus. |
| 飛行機で日本へ行きます。 | I'm going to Japan by plane. |
| 自転車で家に帰ります。 | I go home by bicycle. |
| タクシーで来ました。 | I came by taxi. |
The core meaning of で is "means/tool." Transportation is just one use — you'll later learn で for "in what language" and "at what location (for doing something)."
How about "on foot"?
"Walking" doesn't use で. Instead, use the special expression 歩いて:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 歩いて帰ります。 | I walk home. |
| 歩いて学校に行きます。 | I walk to school. |
Why not 足で行きます? Because "walking" isn't a "tool" — it's an action. 歩いて is the て-form of the verb 歩く (to walk), meaning "by way of walking."
Particle 3: と — Companion
To express "with whom," use と:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 友達と行きます。 | I'm going with a friend. |
| 家族と日本へ行きます。 | I'm going to Japan with my family. |
| 妹と一緒に図書館へ行きました。 | I went to the library with my younger sister. |
と is often followed by 一緒に (together), but it can be omitted:
- 友達と一緒に行きます。 I'm going together with a friend. (full version)
- 友達と行きます。 I'm going with a friend. (shortened — same meaning)
Full Combo: Four Particles in One Sentence
The complete movement verb pattern is:
[Who] は [time] に [person] と [transport] で [place] に/へ 行きます/来ます/帰ります。
Here's a fully loaded example:
私は三月二十日に家族と飛行機で日本へ行きます。 → I'm going to Japan with my family by plane on March 20th.
Breaking it down:
| Component | Japanese | Particle | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | 私は | は | I (topic) |
| Time | 三月二十日に | に | On March 20th |
| Companion | 家族と | と | With family |
| Transport | 飛行機で | で | By plane |
| Destination | 日本へ | へ | To Japan |
| Verb | 行きます | — | Go |
The order of these components isn't fixed, but the order above is the most natural. The verb always comes last.
Practice Conversations
Here are some typical Q&A exchanges:
Q: 先週の日曜日、どこへ行きましたか。 Where did you go last Sunday? A: 図書館へ行きました。 I went to the library.
Q: 誰と一緒に行きましたか。 Who did you go with? A: 妹と一緒に行きました。 I went with my younger sister.
Q: 車で行きましたか。 Did you go by car? A: いいえ、バスで行きました。 No, I went by bus.
Q: どうやって会社に行きますか。 How do you get to work? A: 電車で行きます。 I go by train.
Summary
- Movement verb trio: 行きます (go), 来ます (come), 帰ります (return to home base)
- に / へ = destination (interchangeable at N5)
- で = transport/means (train, bus, plane...)
- と = companion (optionally add 一緒に)
- Walking uses 歩いて, not で
- Word order is flexible, but the verb always comes last
Self-Check
Q1. Say "I go home by bicycle every day" in Japanese.
Show answer
私は毎日自転車で家に帰ります。
Transport uses で (自転車で), destination uses に (家に).
Q2. Fill in the blanks: 「姉は昨日友達＿＿デパート＿＿行きました。」(My older sister went to the department store with a friend yesterday.)
Show answer
姉は昨日友達とデパートへ/に行きました。
Companion uses と, destination uses へ or に.
Q3. How do you say "walk to school" in Japanese? Why don't you use で?
Show answer
歩いて学校に行きます。
"Walking" isn't a tool — it's an action, so you use the て-form of the verb 歩く (to walk): 歩いて. The particle で is reserved for tools and means of transport.