GrammarN32 min read2026-02-17

〜いく

Expresses movement away or continuation of actions/states into the future

Meaning

The pattern ~ていく has two main uses: (1) It indicates movement away from the speaker's location toward a distant place, or an object moving away. (2) It expresses the continuation or persistence of a state, action, or change into the future. This contrasts with ~てくる, which indicates movement toward the speaker.

Formation

Part of speechFormation
动词て形いく

Examples

  1. 明日工場見学をする時に、カメラを持って行きます。
    Tomorrow when we tour the factory, I will bring a camera with me.

  2. こんなすばらしい日々をずっと続けていけたらいいなあ。
    I wish we could continue these wonderful days like this forever.

  3. 空気がなくては生きていけません。
    Without air, we cannot survive.

Summary

  • Use ~ていく to express movement or objects going away from the speaker
  • Use ~ていく to show ongoing actions, states, or changes continuing into the future
  • Formation: verb te-form + いく (e.g., 持っていく, 続けていく, 生きていく)

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