Verb Stem + に行く/来る/帰る

📌 Structure:

• [Destination] に/へ + [Purpose of movement (Verb Stem)] + に + 行く／来る／帰る
  (Go/Come/Return to do something)
• Example:
  • 図書館としょかんに本ほんを借かりに行いきます。 I’m going to the library to borrow books.
  • 彼女かのじょは友達ともだちの家いえにパーティーに参加さんかしに来きました。 She came to her friend’s house to participate in the party.
  • 実家じっかに両親りょうしんに会あいに帰かえります。 I’m returning to my parents’ home to see my parents.

🧩 What’s a “Verb Stem”?

The verb stem is what you get when you remove ます from the verb’s polite present form.

• 食たべます → 食たべ
• 読よみます → 読よみ
• 買かいます → 買かい
• 勉強べんきょうします → 勉強べんきょうし

Use this stem to express the action you’re going to do.

✨ Note

• 📍 に vs へ?
  Both mark direction, but に is more specific and commonly used with this pattern. へ has a slightly softer nuance and can sound a bit more literary/formal.
• Cannot use dictionary form: A common mistake is using the full dictionary form of the verb instead of the stem. You should use stem!

✨ Real-Life Usage

• 📍 You’ll use this a LOT in everyday speech, especially when talking about errands, plans, or trips:
  • スーパーにパンを買かいに行いきます。 (I’m going to the supermarket to buy bread.)
  • 友ともだちの家いえに遊あそびに行いきました。 (I went to my friend’s house to hang out.)
• 📍 Shortened versions: In casual speech, people often shorten this pattern:
  • 映画えいがを見みに行いく – “going to watch a movie”
  • 友達ともだちに会あいに来きた – “came to meet a friend”
• 📍 Explaining travel purposes: When asked why you’re visiting Japan, this is the natural way to respond:
  • 日本にほんに観光かんこうしに来きました – “I came to Japan for sightseeing”
• 📍 Negative intentions: You can also use this to express going somewhere to avoid something:
  • 暑あつさを避さけに山やまに行いきました – “I went to the mountains to escape the heat”