A1 Idiom Neutral

足を運ぶ

ashi o hakobu

Go somewhere (literally: carry one's feet)

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use {足を運ぶ|あしをはこぶ} when you want to emphasize that you personally traveled to a specific location for a purpose.

  • Means: To go somewhere in person, often implying effort or specific intent.
  • Used in: Visiting a store, attending a meeting, or going to an event.
  • Don't confuse: Simply using {行く|いく}, which lacks the nuance of 'making the effort'.
Physical movement + Intentional effort = {足を運ぶ|あしをはこぶ}

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to go to a place. We use it when we want to say we worked hard to go somewhere.
It describes the act of visiting a location. It is more descriptive than just saying 'go' because it implies you made a special effort to get there.
This is a common idiom used to emphasize the physical effort of travel. It is often used to show appreciation for someone who has traveled a long distance to see you.
Used to convey sincerity, this idiom highlights the intentionality behind a visit. It is frequently employed in both formal business correspondence and polite social interactions to acknowledge the time and energy invested in a journey.
This idiom functions as a marker of social commitment. By focusing on the 'feet' (the agent of locomotion), it underscores the physical reality of the visit, thereby elevating the act from a mere change of location to a deliberate, respectful social engagement.
The phrase serves as a cognitive metaphor where the physical exertion of walking represents the abstract value of the visit. It is deeply embedded in the Japanese 'omotenashi' culture, where the effort taken to bridge the distance between two parties is as significant as the interaction itself.

Significado

To make the effort to go to a place.

🌍

Contexto cultural

Visiting in person is a core part of business etiquette. In many cultures, 'showing up' is the ultimate sign of commitment.

🎯

Use with 'Wazawaza'

Pairing it with 'wazawaza' makes the effort sound even more sincere.

Significado

To make the effort to go to a place.

🎯

Use with 'Wazawaza'

Pairing it with 'wazawaza' makes the effort sound even more sincere.

Ponte a prueba

Which sentence is natural?

Choose the best usage:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: B

A is wrong because it's a mundane task. B is correct as it shows effort.

🎉 Puntuación: /1

Preguntas frecuentes

1 preguntas

Yes, it is very common in business.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

出向く

similar

To go on-site

Dónde usarla

🙏

Thanking a guest

Host: 遠いところ、足を運んでくださりありがとうございます。

polite
🗺️

Planning a trip

Friend: 今度、そのカフェに足を運んでみようよ。

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine your feet are little travelers carrying a gift of respect to a friend.

Visual Association

A person walking a long path with a smile, arriving at a door.

Story

Ken wanted to buy a rare book. He didn't order it online. He walked for an hour to the shop. He 'moved his feet' (足を運んだ) to show he really cared about the book.

Word Web

行く訪問わざわざ出向く移動努力

Desafío

Tell a friend about a place you visited recently using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hacer el esfuerzo de ir

Japanese uses the body part (feet) as the focus.

French moderate

Se déplacer

Japanese is more idiomatic and warmer.

German high

Sich auf den Weg machen

German focuses on the path; Japanese on the feet.

Japanese partial

出向く

足を運ぶ is more sincere/personal.

Arabic moderate

تكبد عناء الذهاب

Arabic emphasizes the burden; Japanese emphasizes the sincerity.

Easily Confused

足を運ぶ vs 行く

General verb for going.

Use 足を運ぶ for special visits.

Preguntas frecuentes (1)

Yes, it is very common in business.

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