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

level1 (N5)
2025.04.06

Video

Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.

How to Use “V-stem + ni iku / kuru” in Japanese | Go/Come to Do Something
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel

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).

Understanding grammar is one thing. Using it naturally is another.
Practice this expression with a native Japanese tutor.

Practice with a tutor →

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
  • 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

図書館としょかんに本ほんを返かえしに行いきます。
I will go to the library to return a book.

家いえに母ははを手伝てつだいに帰かえります。
I will return home to help my mom.

デパートに服ふくを買かいに行いきます。
I’m going to the department store to buy clothes.

塾じゅくに英語えいごを教おしえに行いきます。
I go to the cram school to teach English.

明日あした、友ともだちが私わたしに会あいに来きます。
Tomorrow, my friend is coming to see me.

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.

  • カフェにコーヒーを飲のみに行いきます。(more common)
    I’m going to a cafe to drink coffee.
  • カフェへコーヒーを飲みに行きます。

You can also note that the destination marker へ is pronounced “e,” not “he.”

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

Q
Can I use any verb with this structure?
A

Yes, as long as it expresses an action (not a state). Use the stem form and make sure it’s something someone can go/come to do.

Q
What’s the difference between 行く and 来る?
A

The key difference is the speaker’s current location and the direction of movement relative to that location.

  • 行く = go (movement away from the speaker’s current location)
  • 来る = come (movement toward the speaker’s current location)

In English, “come” often means “come toward the listener,” but in Japanese, 来る is only used when the movement is toward the speaker (or toward the speaker’s location in the future).

Because of this, Japanese and English sometimes choose opposite verbs. If your friend invites you somewhere and you are on your way there, you say:

  • 今行きます。= I’m going now.
    You are moving away from where you currently are, so Japanese uses 行く.

But in English you would normally say:

  • I’m coming (now).
Q
Can I use this in past tense?
A

Absolutely!

  • 先日せんじつ、学校がっこうに有名ゆうめいなミュージシャンが演奏えんそうしに来きました。= The other day, a well-known musician came to play at our school.
  • この前まえの水曜日すいようび、映画えいがを見みに行いきました。= I went to see a movie last Wednesday.

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

Ready to start speaking Japanese?
Try a gokigen japanese lesson and practise with a friendly native tutor.

Book a trial lesson $5

Online 1on1 · ~50min · First lesson only $5
  • gokigen japanese
    Author:

    gokigen japanese is an online Japanese tutoring service launched in 2023. Flexible, interactive, and culture-rich, gokigen japanese supports learners at all levels with bilingual Japanese tutors.
    Over 1,000 students from 30+ countries have used our 300+ original materials, including grammar guides and cultural content.

    gokigen japanese was founded by Hirofumi Naramura, a Kyoto University graduate and former Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (2010–2020). The service has received recognition such as the Chiyoda CULTURE x TECH Award 2024 and acceptance into NEXs Tokyo, a startup program by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
  • Reviewer:

    Japanese native and language educator with about 10 years of experience teaching and developing courses and materials.
    She studied and taught in 5 different countries. Her most recent teaching role was at University of Pennsylvania in the U.S.
    Other than teaching all levels of Japanese in various settings from personal tutoring to college courses, she also has experience writing articles about Japanese language and culture and teaching English.
    Education: M.A. in Japanese pedagogy, Purdue University. B.A from the school of Japanese language and culture, Tsukuba University.