When learning Japanese, you might find yourself confused by seemingly simple verbs like “go” and “come.” While they look straightforward at first, Japanese treats movement with a level of precision that can surprise learners. Where someone is going, whether they are moving away from the speaker, coming closer, or returning to a familiar place all matter.
In this guide, we’ll break down three essential verbs of movement: iku, kuru, and kaeru. We’ll look at what they mean, how they are used, and the key perspective differences that often trip learners up.
1. “Go” in Japanese: 行く (iku)
行く（いく / iku）means “to go.” It is used when someone moves away from the place that is treated as “here” in the conversation.
Basic examples:
学校に行く
Gakkō ni iku
I’m going to school.
明日東京に行きます
Ashita Tōkyō ni ikimasu
I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.
Key takeaway:
行く is used for movement away from the speaker’s reference point. It can describe your own movement or someone else’s, as long as the destination is not considered “here” in the conversation.
2. “Come” in Japanese: 来る (kuru)
来る（くる / kuru）means “to come.” It is used when someone moves toward the speaker or toward a place the speaker treats as the reference point.
Basic examples:
家に来てください
Ie ni kite kudasai
Please come to my place.
友だちが来ます
Tomodachi ga kimasu
My friend is coming.
An important detail:
来る depends heavily on perspective—what counts as “here.”
For example, if you are at home and a friend is heading there, 来る is used. Even if you are not physically at home, your house can still be treated as your reference point, so 来る may still be appropriate. This perspective-based thinking is different from English and often takes time to get used to.
3. “Return” in Japanese: 帰る (kaeru)
帰る（かえる / kaeru）means “to return.” It usually implies going back to a place considered one’s home or regular base.
Common destinations include:
- One’s home
- One’s hometown or country
- A familiar base such as a workplace or school
Basic examples:
家に帰る
Ie ni kaeru
I’m going home.
国に帰ります
Kuni ni kaerimasu
I’m returning to my country.
Important nuance:
帰る is not used for simply going back to any location. It carries the idea of returning to a place that feels like one’s normal or rightful destination.
4. Comparing the Three at a Glance
Here’s a quick summary:
- 行く (iku): moving away from the reference point
- 来る (kuru): moving toward the reference point
- 帰る (kaeru): returning to a familiar place, often home
Example contrast:
学校に行く
I’m going to school.
先生が学校に来る
The teacher is coming to school.
(Used when the school is treated as “here,” such as when speaking from the school or to people at the school.)
家に帰る
I’m going home.
Each verb describes movement from a different point of view, not just a different direction.
5. A Common Learner Mistake
A frequent mistake among English speakers is overusing 行く.
For example, if you are already at your friend’s house and another person is heading there, learners sometimes say:
❌ 友だちの家に行く
In this situation, the destination is treated as “here,” so Japanese naturally uses 来る instead:
✅ 友だちが来る
My friend is coming.
The verb choice depends not only on the action, but also on where “here” is understood to be in the conversation.
Final Thoughts
Learning iku, kuru, and kaeru is not just about memorizing translations. It’s about understanding how Japanese speakers think about space, movement, and perspective.
Once you start paying attention to that point of view, these verbs will feel more natural—and your Japanese will sound more accurate as a result. Keep practicing, and over time, choosing the right verb will become second nature.
