How to Use “V-stem + ni iku / kuru” in Japanese | Go/Come to Do Something

Introduction

If you’ve ever wanted to say “I go to the gym to exercise” or “I came to Japan to study,” you’re in the right place. In Japanese, we express the purpose of movement using this powerful structure:

V-stem + に 行いく（iku）/ 来くる（kuru）
“go/come to do (something)”

This is a must-know grammar point for beginners. Once you master this, you can talk about your plans, your goals, and even your weekend adventures—all in natural Japanese!

1. What Is “V-stem + に 行く / 来る”?

This structure means “to go (行いく) or come (来くる) somewhere to do something”.

Structure:

[Destination] + に（or へ） + [verb stem] + に + 行いく / 来くる

For example:

• 今週末こんしゅうまつ、映画えいがを見みに行いきます。= I will go to see a movie this weekend.
• 私わたしは日本にほんに働はたらきに来きました。= I came to Japan to work.

You’re combining two actions: the movement (go/come) and the purpose (do something).

2. How to Form It

Here’s how to build the sentence step by step:

Step 1: Use the verb stem

Drop ます from the polite form of the verb:

• 食たべます (to eat) → 食べ
• 行いきます (to go) → 行き
• 見みます (to see) → 見

Step 2: Add に + 行く or 来る

• 食たべに行いく → to go to eat
• 見みに来くる → to come to watch

3. Examples in Action

4. Bonus Tip: に and へ

You can use に or へ to mark the destination:

• 図書館としょかんに行いきます ✅
• 図書館へ行きます ✅

Both are fine, but に is more direct and commonly used in this structure.

5. Practice Time!

Try making sentences with these hints:

• I go to the park to run.
  → 公園こうえんに走はしりに行いきます。
• I came to Japan to study.
  → 日本にほんに勉強べんきょうしに来きました。
• Ken goes to Kyoto to see temples.
  → ケンさんは京都きょうとに寺てらを見みに行いきます。

6. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Using V-stem + に 行く / 来る is an essential grammar tool to express your actions with purpose. It helps you:
✅ Sound natural
✅ Express your goals and movement
✅ Combine actions and destinations fluently