When attached to the te-form of a verb, ～ていく (te iku) indicates an action or state that is continuing and moving away from the speaker, both literally and figuratively.
For example, it can describe physical movement, like 歩いていく (aruite iku), meaning "to walk away."
It also expresses a gradual change or development into the future, such as 変わっていく (kawatte iku), meaning "to change (over time)."
This expression emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action or change as it progresses forward.
When used with a verb in its て-form, ～ていく indicates a change that progresses or moves forward in time or space, away from the speaker's current position or state. It suggests a continuation of an action or a process into the future or to a more distant location. Think of it as 'to go on doing something' or 'to continue to become something.'
For example, if you say 暖かくなっていく (atatakaku natte iku), it means 'it's getting warmer (and will continue to get warmer).' It can also describe a spatial movement away, like 歩いていく (aruite iku), meaning 'to walk away.' The nuance is about the ongoing nature of the change or movement.
§ Understanding 〜ていく
The Japanese auxiliary verb 〜ていく (te iku) is very common and useful. It indicates an action or a state that is continuing and moving forward, or changing away from the speaker. Think of it as 'going on' or 'going off into the future'. It's always attached to the 連用形 (ren'yōkei) or 'continuative form' of a verb, which is often the 〜て (te) form of the verb.
- Definition
- Auxiliary verb indicating a change continuing away from the speaker.
§ Basic Usage: Verb + ていく
The most common way to use 〜ていく is by simply attaching it to the 〜て form of a verb. This creates a compound verb that describes an action that starts now and continues into the future, or an action that moves away from the speaker's current location or perspective.
- Continuous Action: The action begins now and will continue.
- Movement Away: The action involves moving physically or figuratively away from the speaker.
日本語を勉強していくつもりです。
- Hint
- I plan to continue studying Japanese (from now on).
彼は家を出ていきました。
- Hint
- He left the house (and is now gone from here).
§ Expressing Gradual Change
〜ていく is also used to describe a gradual change or development over time. It suggests a process that is ongoing and progressing into the future.
だんだん暖かくなっていくでしょう。
- Hint
- It will gradually get warmer (as time goes on).
子供たちは成長していくものです。
- Hint
- Children are things that grow up (as time progresses).
§ Comparing with 〜てくる (te kuru)
It's helpful to compare 〜ていく with its counterpart 〜てくる (te kuru). While 〜ていく indicates movement or change *away* from the speaker's current point or into the future, 〜てくる indicates movement or change *towards* the speaker's current point or from the past up to now.
- 〜ていく: Action/state moves away or into the future.
- 〜てくる: Action/state moves towards or from the past up to now.
これからもっと忙しくなっていくでしょう。
- Hint
- It will probably get busier (from now on into the future).
今までずっと日本語を勉強してきました。
- Hint
- I have been studying Japanese (from the past up until now).
§ Common Verbs with 〜ていく
You'll often hear 〜ていく combined with verbs related to movement, change, or growth:
- なっていく (natte iku): to become (and continue to be)
- 増えていく (fuete iku): to increase (and continue to increase)
- 減っていく (hette iku): to decrease (and continue to decrease)
- 続けていく (tsuzukete iku): to continue (doing something)
- 生きていく (ikite iku): to live on, to go on living
Mastering 〜ていく will significantly improve your ability to express ongoing actions, changes, and future plans in Japanese. Pay attention to the context to understand the exact nuance of movement away or continuous change.
How Formal Is It?
"今後、社会は大きく変化していくでしょう。"
"この道はまっすぐ進んでいくと、駅に着きます。"
"あの雲はだんだん消えていったね。"
"赤ちゃんが毎日大きくなっていくね！"
"まぁ、なんとかやっていくさ。"
알아야 할 문법
Use ～ていく to describe an action that starts now and continues into the future, moving away from the speaker or a current state.
これから日本語を勉強していく。 (From now on, I will continue to study Japanese.)
Use ～ていく to describe something that is changing or developing over time, often implying a gradual process.
子供はどんどん大きくなっていく。 (Children grow bigger and bigger.)
Use ～ていく when an action takes you physically away from your current location.
駅まで歩いていく。 (I will walk to the station [and go there].)
When combined with verbs describing a state, ～ていく can emphasize the continuation of that state as time progresses.
この問題は解決していくでしょう。 (This problem will likely resolve itself [as time goes on].)
～ていく can also be used to express that an action or situation will continue until it reaches a certain point or conclusion.
最後まで頑張っていく。 (I will keep trying until the very end.)
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
これからも頑張っていく。
I will continue to work hard from now on.
地球温暖化はこれからも進んでいくでしょう。
Global warming will likely continue to progress from now on.
この町はどんどん変わっていく。
This town is changing rapidly (and will continue to change).
時間が経つにつれて、記憶は薄れていく。
As time passes, memories fade (and continue to fade).
彼と一緒に生きていくと決めた。
I decided to live on with him.
人口はこれからも減っていく傾向にある。
The population tends to continue decreasing from now on.
子供たちは成長していくものだ。
Children are meant to grow up (and continue to grow).
新しい技術はどんどん生まれていく。
New technologies are constantly being born (and will continue to be born).
この問題は解決に向けて進んでいくはずだ。
This problem should proceed towards a solution.
私たちは未来へ向かって歩いていく。
We walk towards the future (and continue to walk).
관용어 및 표현
"変わっていく (kawatte iku)"
To change over time, to undergo a transformation
時代は常に変わっていくものです。(Jidai wa tsuneni kawatte iku mono desu.) - Times are always changing.
neutral"増えていく (fuete iku)"
To increase gradually, to be on the rise
人口は年々増えていく傾向にある。(Jinkō wa nennen fuete iku keikō ni aru.) - The population tends to increase year by year.
neutral"減っていく (hette iku)"
To decrease gradually, to be on the decline
燃料がだんだん減っていく。(Nenryō ga dandan hette iku.) - The fuel is gradually decreasing.
neutral"進んでいく (susunde iku)"
To proceed, to move forward
計画通りに進んでいく。(Keikaku dōri ni susunde iku.) - It will proceed according to plan.
neutral"成長していく (seichō shite iku)"
To grow, to develop
子供たちはすくすくと成長していく。(Kodomotachi wa sukusuku to seichō shite iku.) - The children are growing up quickly.
neutral"続いていく (tsuzuite iku)"
To continue, to last
この伝統はこれからも続いていくでしょう。(Kono dentō wa korekara mo tsuzuite iku deshō.) - This tradition will likely continue from now on.
neutral"広がっていく (hirogette iku)"
To spread out, to expand
噂はあっという間に広がっていく。(Uwasa wa atto iu ma ni hirogatte iku.) - The rumor spread in the blink of an eye.
neutral"なくなっていく (nakunatte iku)"
To disappear, to vanish gradually
古い習慣がなくなっていくのは寂しい。(Furui shūkan ga nakunatte iku no wa samishii.) - It's sad to see old customs disappearing.
neutral"やっていく (yatte iku)"
To get by, to manage, to continue doing
なんとかやっていく。(Nantoka yatte iku.) - I'll somehow manage.
neutral"生きていく (ikite iku)"
To live on, to continue living
強く生きていく。(Tsuyoku ikite iku.) - To live strongly.
neutral셀프 테스트 36 질문
I am going to the supermarket.
He reads a book.
She drinks coffee.
Read this aloud:
おはようございます。
Focus: o-ha-yoh go-zai-masu
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
こんにちは。
Focus: kon-ni-chi-wa
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
ありがとうございます。
Focus: a-ri-ga-toh go-zai-masu
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You are going on a trip next week. Write a short sentence about what you will 'continue to do' or 'start doing and continue' during your trip, using ～ていく. For example, 'I will continue to take many pictures.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は旅行でたくさんの写真を撮っていきます。
Imagine you are talking about your plans for the future. Write a sentence explaining something you want to 'continue to study' or 'continue to learn' using ～ていく. For example, 'I will continue to study Japanese.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
これからも日本語を勉強していきます。
You are describing a change happening in your town. Write a sentence about something that will 'continue to change' or 'continue to increase/decrease' using ～ていく. For example, 'The number of shops will continue to increase.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この町はこれからも変わっていきます。
What does the speaker express about their new job?
Read this passage:
私は明日から新しい仕事を始めます。最初は大変だと思いますが、がんばっていきます。
What does the speaker express about their new job?
がんばっていきます means 'I will try my best and continue (doing so).' The ～ていく form indicates a continuous effort going forward.
がんばっていきます means 'I will try my best and continue (doing so).' The ～ていく form indicates a continuous effort going forward.
What is the speaker instructing the listener to do?
Read this passage:
この道はまっすぐ行くと、駅に着きます。そのまま進んでいってください。
What is the speaker instructing the listener to do?
進んでいってください uses ～ていく to mean 'please continue going forward.'
進んでいってください uses ～ていく to mean 'please continue going forward.'
What is happening with global warming?
Read this passage:
最近、地球の温暖化が進んでいっています。これは深刻な問題です。
What is happening with global warming?
進んでいっています means 'is continuing to progress.' The ～ていく indicates a continuous change.
進んでいっています means 'is continuing to progress.' The ～ていく indicates a continuous change.
You are going on a trip next week. Describe one thing you will do to prepare, using ～ていく. (e.g., 準備していく)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
来週の旅行のために、荷物をまとめていきます。 (For next week's trip, I will pack my luggage.)
Describe something you started doing recently and plan to continue doing, using ～ていく. (e.g., 続けていく)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
最近、毎日日本語を勉強しています。このまま続けていきたいです。 (Recently, I've been studying Japanese every day. I want to continue doing so.)
Imagine you are explaining to someone how a change in technology will progress. Use ～ていく to describe one aspect of this change. (e.g., 発展していく)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
これからの技術は、もっと速く発展していくでしょう。(Technology from now on will develop even faster.)
この文で、「作っていく」と「良くしていく」はどのような意味で使われていますか？
Read this passage:
私たちはこれからの未来を、みんなで一緒に作っていく必要があります。一人ひとりの努力が、社会を良くしていくことにつながります。
この文で、「作っていく」と「良くしていく」はどのような意味で使われていますか？
「～ていく」は、ある状態が継続的に変化・進行する様子を表します。
「～ていく」は、ある状態が継続的に変化・進行する様子を表します。
Aさんが「成長していきたい」と考えているのは、どのような状況ですか？
Read this passage:
Aさんは、来年から新しい仕事を始めます。彼は、これまでの経験を活かして、新しい分野でさらに成長していきたいと考えています。
Aさんが「成長していきたい」と考えているのは、どのような状況ですか？
「～ていく」は、未来に向かって何かが継続していくことを示します。
「～ていく」は、未来に向かって何かが継続していくことを示します。
この文章から、鳥の数についてどのようなことがわかりますか？
Read this passage:
この森では、毎年、鳥の数が少しずつ減っていく傾向にあります。私たちはこの問題を真剣に考えて、対策を立てていく必要があります。
この文章から、鳥の数についてどのようなことがわかりますか？
「減っていく傾向にあります」という表現が、継続的な減少を示しています。
「減っていく傾向にあります」という表現が、継続的な減少を示しています。
Choose the most natural sentence using "～ていく":
「～ていく」indicates a continuous change or action moving forward from the present. Option 1 describes a future trend of economic growth. The other options describe simple actions without this nuance.
Which sentence correctly uses "～ていく" to express a gradual change?
「～ていく」can express a gradual, ongoing change. Option 1 describes children gradually growing bigger. The other options do not convey a gradual change.
Select the sentence where "～ていく" implies an action starting now and continuing into the future:
「～ていく」can express an action or state that begins now and continues to progress. Option 1 suggests that work will become busy from now on and continue to be so.
The sentence 「彼は毎日会社へ行っていきます。」 correctly uses "～ていく" to mean he goes to the company every day.
While 「行きます」 means 'goes', adding 「～ていく」 implies a continuous action or a change moving away. For a simple repeated action like 'goes every day', 「彼は毎日会社へ行きます。」 is more natural. 「行っていきます」 would suggest he is going and continuing to go, which doesn't fit the daily routine.
「この問題はこれから難しくなっていきます。」 means 'This problem will become more difficult from now on.'
「～ていく」here accurately conveys the idea of a change (becoming difficult) that starts now and continues into the future. This is a correct usage.
You can use 「～ていく」 to describe an action that is completed in the past, like 'I ate the cake.'
「～ていく」 is used for actions or states that continue into the future or move away from the speaker, or describe a gradual change. It is not used for completed past actions. For 'I ate the cake,' you would simply use 「ケーキを食べました。」
This sentence means 'The population will likely continue to decrease from now on.' The structure '～ていく' indicates a change (decrease) that is continuing into the future.
This sentence means 'His way of thinking changed over time.' Here, '～ていった' (past tense of ～ていく) describes a change that progressed over time.
This sentence means 'This project will continue to develop further.' '～ていく' shows an ongoing development or progression.
来年から新しいプロジェクトが＿＿。
「始まっていく」は、これから新しいプロジェクトが継続的に開始される状況を表します。変化が現在から未来へと続いていくニュアンスです。
この技術は今後、さらに進化＿＿。
「進化していくでしょう」は、将来にわたって技術の進歩が続くことを予測しています。「～ていく」が未来への継続的な変化を示します。
世界情勢は常に変化＿＿。
「変化していくものだ」は、世界情勢が常に動き続けるという普遍的な事実を表します。「～ていく」は、変化が続いていく様子を描写します。
「この問題はこれから解決していく」は、問題が今まさに解決している状況を表す。
「これから解決していく」は、問題がこれから継続的に解決に向かうことを示唆しており、今まさに解決している状況とは異なります。
「彼はどんどん成長していく」は、彼の成長が一時的なものであることを表す。
「どんどん成長していく」は、彼の成長が継続的に進んでいくことを示しており、一時的なものではありません。
「子供たちは外で遊んでいく」は、子供たちが家から離れて外へ遊びに行く様子を表す。
「遊んでいく」は、話し手から見て子供たちが外へと移動し、そこで遊び続けるという、距離が離れていくニュアンスを含みます。
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
관련 콘텐츠
관련 표현
emotions 관련 단어
ぼんやり
B1Vaguely; absentmindedly; dimly.
夢中
B1Absorption; engrossment; infatuation.
受け止める
B1To accept; to take; to grasp.
達成感
B1Sense of accomplishment.
ひしひしと
B1Acutely; keenly; strongly (feeling something).
適応する
B1To adapt; to adjust.
健気な
B2Brave, admirable, or plucky (especially of a weaker person).
感心な
B1Admirable; deserving admiration.
感心
B1Admiration, impression, or being impressed.
感心する
B1To be impressed; to admire.
