Hello everyone! This is your Japanese teacher, Norie.
You already know that 「に」 marks a place: 日本にいく (go to Japan). But then why do we say 旅行にいく (ryokou ni iku, go on a trip)? 旅行 is not a place. In this article, you will learn the “purpose” 「に」 and how it is different from the 「に」 for places.
「に」 isn’t just for places: the 「に」 for a purpose
The particle 「に」 has several uses. One of them is to show a purpose: why you go somewhere.
旅行 (ryokou) means “a trip” or “travel.” It is an activity, not a place. When we say 旅行にいく, we think of 旅行 as the purpose of going.
旅行にいく = to go for the purpose of traveling
It is like “for” in “go for a trip.” You can use the same pattern with other activities:
- 買い物にいく (kaimono ni iku): go shopping
- 遊びにいく (asobi ni iku): go out to have fun
- 仕事にくる (shigoto ni kuru): come for work
In all of these, 「に」 shows that you are going (or coming) to do an activity.
Compare the two 「に」
Look at the word before 「に」. Is it a place, or something you do?
| 「に」 for a purpose (to do something) | 「に」 for a place (to somewhere) |
| 旅行にいく (go on a trip) | 日本にいく (go to Japan) |
| 買い物にいく (go shopping) | コンビニにいく (go to a convenience store) |
| 映画を観にいく (go to watch a movie) | 映画館にいく (go to a movie theater) |
The verb is the same (いく), but the meaning changes with the word before 「に」.
Note: with a verb, use the ます-stem + に: 見ます → 見にいく (go to see), 食べます → 食べにいく (go to eat). You can even use both 「に」 in one sentence: 東京に買い物にいきます (I’m going to Tokyo to shop).
Example sentences with audio
Listen and repeat. Notice when it is 旅行にいく (go) and when it is 旅行にくる (come).
週末に家族と旅行にいきます。
しゅうまつに かぞくと りょこうに いきます。
I’ll go on a trip with my family this weekend.
友だちが来月、日本に旅行にきます。
ともだちが らいげつ、にほんに りょこうに きます。
My friend is coming to Japan on a trip next month.
卒業したら、ヨーロッパに旅行にいくのが夢です。
そつぎょうしたら、ヨーロッパに りょこうに いくのが ゆめです。
My dream is to travel to Europe after I graduate.
遠い国から、日本に旅行にきてくれてありがとう。
とおい くにから、にほんに りょこうに きてくれて ありがとう。
Thank you for coming all the way to Japan on your trip.
Quick check
Is the 「に」 for a place or for a purpose? Click to see the answer.
1. 大阪にいきます。
Place. 大阪 (Osaka) is a city: “I’m going to Osaka.”
2. 散歩にいきます。
Purpose. 散歩 (さんぽ) means a walk: “I’m going for a walk.”
3. ラーメンを食べにいきます。
Purpose. 食べ (ます-stem) + に: “I’m going (out) to eat ramen.”
Summary
- Place + に + いく: go to a place (日本にいく).
- Activity + に + いく/くる: go or come for an activity (旅行にいく, 買い物にいく).
- Verb ます-stem + に + いく: go to do something (見にいく, 食べにいく).
Going on a trip to Japan?
If 旅行にいく is in your plans, my Travel Japanese Pack can help. It has 10 short lessons with illustrated PDFs and audio for stations, restaurants, shops and hotels, plus a bonus Osaka dialect lesson.
For more useful phrases, see Essential Japanese Phrases for Travel and Daily Life.
