Why Does Japanese Say いきます for “I’m Coming”?
Understanding the unique perspective of いきます and きます
Many learners get confused about いきます (go) and きます (come). It looks simple at first glance:
- ✦いきます = go
- ✦きます = come
But then you hear this conversation and wonder why:
Situation: A is waiting for B
A: Where are you?
B: I’m coming!
B: I’m coming!
A: どこですか。
B: いま、いきます！
B: いま、いきます！
Why does Japanese use いきます instead of きます here?
The Simple Rule
The secret is to always think about the destination and your current position.
いきます (go)
→ Moving away from where you are now.
- • がっこうに いきます (I go to school)
- • スーパーに いきます (I go to the supermarket)
きます (come)
→ Moving toward you or your side.
- • ともだちが うちに きます (My friend comes to my house)
- • せんせいが パーティーに きます (The teacher comes to the party)
Why English Feels Different
English often uses “come” when you are moving toward the listener’s location. However, Japanese is strictly focused on your own current viewpoint. Since you are moving away from where you are now to reach the other person, it must be いきます.
💡 Quick Tip: Don’t translate directly from English! Just remember this simple image:
• Moving away → いきます • Moving toward you/your side → きます
• Moving away → いきます • Moving toward you/your side → きます
Key Takeaway
Next time you want to say “I’m coming!” to a friend waiting for you, say:
いま、いきます！
Once you notice this viewpoint pattern, using these two verbs becomes much easier.
