Why are there two verbs for 'to go'?

Russian distinguishes between movement in one direction (`идти`) and multi-directional/habitual movement (`ходить`). It adds precision to the context of the trip.

Can I use 'идти' if I'm on a bike?

No, a bike is a vehicle. You must use `ехать`. For example: `Я еду на велосипеде`.

Is 'ехать' only for driving a car?

No, it covers being a passenger in a car, bus, train, or even on a horse. It's about the mode of transport, not who is steering.

What if I'm going to the store every day?

That's a habit. Use the multidirectional verb `ходить` instead: `Я хожу в магазин каждый день`.

How do I say 'I'm coming' in Russian?

You use the unidirectional verbs. If walking, say `я иду`. If driving, say `я еду`. Russian doesn't have a separate 'come' verb for this context.

Can 'идти' be used for weather?

Yes! Rain and snow 'walk' in Russian. `Идёт дождь` (It is raining) and `идёт снег` (It is snowing).

What case do I use for the destination?

Usually the Accusative case with the prepositions `в` or `на`. Example: `Я иду в парк` (Accusative).

Is 'лечу' (flying) unidirectional?

Yes, `лететь/лечу` is the unidirectional verb for air travel. Use it for specific flights.

What is the past tense of 'идти'?

It's irregular: `шёл` (masculine), `шла` (feminine), `шло` (neuter), `шли` (plural).

Can I use 'идти' for a movie playing?

Yes! `В кино идёт новый фильм` means a new movie is showing/playing right now.

홈
학습
Russian
문법
Motion Verbs Simplified
러시아어 운동 동사: 한 방향으로 가기 (идти, ехать)

1 러시아어 운동 동사: 한 방향으로 가기 (идти, ехать) 2 왔다 갔다 하기: 다방향 이동 동사 (ходить, ездить)

챕터로 돌아가기

A2 Basic Verbs 6 min read 쉬움

러시아어 운동 동사: 한 방향으로 가기 (идти, ехать)

Use unidirectional verbs for 'one-way' trips happening now or as specific future plans, distinguishing between walking and driving.

학습 완료로 표시

Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use unidirectional verbs when you are moving in one specific direction right now or for a single completed trip.

Use 'идти' (to go on foot) for a specific, one-way trip: Я иду в школу (I am walking to school).
Use 'ехать' (to go by vehicle) for a specific, one-way trip: Мы едем в Москву (We are driving to Moscow).
These verbs describe a single, purposeful movement toward a destination, not a repeated habit.

Subject + Unidirectional Verb + Destination (в/на + Accusative)

Overview

앱에서 모스크바의 피자 배달을 추적해 본 적이 있나요? 차나 사람이 실시간으로 아파트를 향해 움직이는 작은 아이콘을 볼 수 있습니다. 러시아어에서 이러한 특정 단방향 움직임('지금 당장' 또는 '특정 여정')은 특별한 동사 그룹에 의해 제어됩니다. 단순히 '가다'라는 일반적인 단어를 사용할 수 없습니다. GPS 추적기처럼 작동하는 동사를 선택해야 합니다. 잘못된 동사를 사용하면 실제로 파티에 가는 것이 아니라 목적 없이 제자리를 맴도는 것처럼 들릴 것입니다. 이것이 바로 단방향 운동 동사입니다. 러시아어 세계의 '직선' 동사입니다.

How This Grammar Works

단방향 동사는 목표를 향해 이동하는 '과정'에 집중합니다. 주인공이 석양을 향해 걷는 영화 장면을 상상해 보세요. 그것이 단방향 동사입니다.

영어에서는 종종 현재 진행형('I am going')을 사용합니다. 러시아어에서는 идти와 ехать 같은 동사를 사용합니다. 논리는 간단합니다.

움직임이 한 방향이고 지금 일어나고 있거나, 계획 중인 특정 여행이라면 단방향을 사용합니다. 이 동사들은 '불완료' 동사로, 완료가 아닌 동작 자체에 집중한다는 뜻입니다. 하지만 단일 방향을 암시하기 때문에 특별합니다.

뒤를 돌아 돌아오면 대개 동사가 바뀝니다. 번화한 도시의 일방통행 표지판과 비슷합니다. 화살표를 따라가세요.

화살표를 거스르려 하면 문법 경찰(또는 당황한 러시아 할머니)이 눈치챌 것입니다. 또한 이동 '수단'에 따라 선택해야 합니다. 다리를 사용하나요?

идти를 사용하세요. 바퀴, 선로 또는 말을 사용하나요? ехать를 사용하세요.

실제로 버스에 타고 있는데 идти를 사용하면 러시아인들은 버스가 너무 느려서 차라리 걷는 게 낫겠다고 생각할 것입니다.

Formation Pattern

... (나머지 섹션) ...

Meanings

Unidirectional verbs describe movement occurring in a single, specific direction at a particular moment or as a single, non-repeated event.

Current movement

Action happening right now.

“Я иду домой.”

“Он едет на работу.”

Single trip

A specific, one-time journey.

“Завтра я еду в Питер.”

“Вчера мы шли в кино.”

Present Tense Conjugation

Pronoun	Идти (to walk)	Ехать (to go by vehicle)
Я	иду	еду
Ты	идёшь	едешь
Он/Она	идёт	едет
Мы	идём	едем
Вы	идёте	едете
Они	идут	едут

Reference Table

Reference table for 러시아어 운동 동사: 한 방향으로 가기 (идти, ехать)
Verb	Mode	1st Person (Я)	3rd Person (Они)
Идти	On foot	Иду	Идут
Ехать	Vehicle	Еду	Едут
Лететь	Flying	Лечу	Летят
Плыть	Swimming/Sailing	Плыву	Плывут
Бежать	Running	Бегу	Бегут
Нести	Carrying (on foot)	Несу	Несут

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체

Я направляюсь в офис.

Я направляюсь в офис. (Work commute)

중립

Я еду в офис.

Я еду в офис. (Work commute)

비격식체

Я еду в офис.

Я еду в офис. (Work commute)

속어

Я на офис.

Я на офис. (Work commute)

Types of Unidirectional Movement

Unidirectional

On Foot

идти to go/walk
бежать to run

By Vehicle

ехать to ride/drive
лететь to fly

Unidirectional vs. Multidirectional

Unidirectional (Идти)

One direction →

Right now I'm on my way

Multidirectional (Ходить)

Round trip ⇄

Habit I go every day

Choosing Your Motion Verb

Are you moving right now?

YES

Go to next question

Use Multidirectional (Habit)

Are you using your legs?

YES

Use ИДТИ

NO ↓

Are you in a car/train?

YES

Use ЕХАТЬ

NO ↓

Common Verb Modes

🌊

Water

• плыть (to swim/sail)

✈️

Air

• лететь (to fly)

🏃

Speed

• бежать (to run)

Examples by Level

Я иду в школу.

I am walking to school.

Мы едем в парк.

We are going to the park.

Ты идешь домой?

Are you walking home?

Он едет в город.

He is driving to the city.

Завтра я еду в отпуск.

Tomorrow I am going on vacation.

Вчера я шел в кино.

Yesterday I was walking to the cinema.

Куда ты идешь?

Where are you going?

Они едут на машине.

They are going by car.

Я шел по улице, когда увидел его.

I was walking down the street when I saw him.

Мы едем в аэропорт к десяти часам.

We are going to the airport by ten o'clock.

Она шла на работу, но забыла ключи.

She was walking to work but forgot her keys.

Почему вы не едете с нами?

Why aren't you coming with us?

Я иду туда, где меня ждут.

I am going where I am expected.

Он едет в командировку на неделю.

He is going on a business trip for a week.

Мы шли под дождем весь вечер.

We were walking in the rain all evening.

Они ехали в поезде всю ночь.

They were riding on the train all night.

Я иду на риск, принимая это решение.

I am taking a risk by making this decision.

Процесс идет в правильном направлении.

The process is moving in the right direction.

Мы едем навстречу переменам.

We are heading toward changes.

Он шел к своей цели годами.

He was moving toward his goal for years.

Время идет, а мы стоим на месте.

Time is passing, and we are standing still.

События идут своим чередом.

Events are taking their course.

Мы едем по пути наименьшего сопротивления.

We are following the path of least resistance.

Она шла по жизни с гордо поднятой головой.

She walked through life with her head held high.

Easily Confused

Russian Motion Verbs: Going One-Way (идти, ехать) 대 Идти vs Ходить

Learners mix up 'now' vs 'habit'.

Russian Motion Verbs: Going One-Way (идти, ехать) 대 Ехать vs Ездить

Learners mix up 'one trip' vs 'habit'.

Russian Motion Verbs: Going One-Way (идти, ехать) 대 Идти vs Ехать

Learners use 'идти' for all movement.

자주 하는 실수

✗

Я иду в школу каждый день.

✓

Я хожу в школу каждый день.

Habitual action requires multidirectional verb.

✗

Я еду пешком.

✓

Я иду пешком.

Cannot use vehicle verb for walking.

✗

Он едет в магазин пешком.

✓

Он идет в магазин.

Contradictory modes of transport.

✗

Я иду в Москву на машине.

✓

Я еду в Москву на машине.

Must use vehicle verb for driving.

✗

Я иду в отпуск в следующем году.

✓

Я еду в отпуск в следующем году.

Vacation implies travel, not walking.

✗

Мы ходим в кино завтра.

✓

Мы идем в кино завтра.

Specific future plan requires unidirectional.

✗

Процесс ходит быстро.

✓

Процесс идет быстро.

Abstract processes are unidirectional.

Sentence Patterns

Я ___ в ___.

Ты ___ в ___ сейчас?

Вчера я ___ в ___.

Завтра мы ___ в ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

Я уже еду!

Travel planning very common

Мы едем в Питер на выходные.

Job interview occasional

Я иду на собеседование.

Food delivery common

Курьер едет к вам.

Social media common

Иду на концерт!

Travel directions common

Идите прямо.

🎯

The Uber Rule

If you can track it on a map moving toward a destination, use a unidirectional verb like едет or идет.

⚠️

Don't Eat Your Verbs

Be careful with еду (I am going by vehicle) vs еда (food) and ем (I eat). They sound similar but are very different!

💬

Transport Logic

In Russia, even if you aren't driving the bus, you say я еду. You are 'riding' the movement of the vehicle.

Smart Tips

Ask yourself: Is it a habit or right now?

Я иду на работу каждый день. → Я хожу на работу каждый день.

Always use 'ехать' or its derivatives.

Я иду на автобусе. → Я еду на автобусе.

Use unidirectional verbs to describe the journey.

Я ходил в магазин и купил хлеб. → Я шел в магазин и купил хлеб.

Use unidirectional verbs for specific trips.

Я езжу в Сочи летом. → Я еду в Сочи летом.

발음

иду́, идёшь, идём

Stress

Stress shifts in conjugation.

Question

Ты иде́шь? ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

I-dti is for the 'I' (one person, one way).

Visual Association

Imagine a single arrow pointing from your house to the store. That arrow is your unidirectional verb.

Rhyme

One way is the way to go, use 'иду' and 'еду' so.

Story

Ivan is walking to the store. He is focused. He is not wandering. He is using 'иду'. Suddenly, he sees a bus. He gets on. Now he is 'еду'.

Word Web

идуедушелехалидиедь

챌린지

Write 3 sentences about where you are going today using 'иду' or 'еду'.

문화 노트

Walking is a very common way to commute in cities.

Driving is often associated with status.

Public transport is the default.

Rooted in Proto-Slavic motion verbs.

Conversation Starters

“

Куда ты идешь?

“

Ты едешь на работу на машине?

“

Куда ты едешь в отпуск?

“

Как ты обычно добираешься до университета?

Journal Prompts

Describe your walk to work/school today.

Where are you planning to go this weekend?

Reflect on a journey you took recently.

How has your commute changed over the years?

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'идти' or 'ехать'.

Сейчас я ___ (on foot) в банк.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: иду

Since you are moving on foot ('иду') and it is happening 'сейчас' (now), the unidirectional verb is required.

Which sentence is correct for someone currently in a taxi? 객관식

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Я еду в отель.

In a taxi, you use 'ехать'. Since it's happening now, you use the unidirectional form 'еду'.

Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Завтра мы ходим в музей.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Завтра мы идём в музей.

For a specific planned trip tomorrow, the unidirectional 'идём' is used instead of the habitual 'ходим'.

Score: /3

연습 문제

8 exercises

Fill in the correct verb.

Я ___ в магазин сейчас.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: иду

Happening now on foot.

Choose the correct verb. 객관식

Мы ___ в Москву на поезде.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: едем

Vehicle travel.

Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Я иду в школу каждый день.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Я хожу в школу каждый день.

Habitual action.

Change to past tense. Sentence Transformation

Я иду домой.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Я шел домой.

Past tense of иду.

Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

— Куда ты едешь? — Я ___ в аэропорт.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: еду

Vehicle travel.

Order the words. Sentence Building

в / я / иду / парк

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Я иду в парк.

Standard word order.

Sort by verb type. Grammar Sorting

Which is unidirectional?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: иду

Determinate verb.

Match verb to mode. Match Pairs

Идти = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Foot

Идти is for walking.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises

Fill in the blank 빈칸 채우기

Куда вы сейчас ___ (by car)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: едете

Put the words in the correct order Sentence Reorder

иду / сейчас / в / я / аптеку

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Я сейчас иду в аптеку

Translate to Russian 번역

The plane is flying to London.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Самолёт летит в Лондон.

Match the verb with the mode of transport Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Идти - Legs, Ехать - Car, Лететь - Plane, Плыть - Boat

Which verb fits a person on a bicycle? 객관식

Он ___ на велосипеде.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: едет

Fix the verb form Error Correction

Они едят в Москву.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Они едут в Москву.

Fill in the blank 빈칸 채우기

Мы ___ (walking) домой.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: идём

Select the correct question for 'Where are you going (right now)?' 객관식

Choose the question:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Куда ты идёшь?

Reorder the sentence Sentence Reorder

в / мы / едем / субботу / деревню / в

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: В субботу мы едем в деревню

Translate to Russian 번역

I am driving to work.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Я еду на работу.

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (8)

No, 'идти' is strictly for walking. Use 'ехать' for cars.

If you are talking about the trip as a whole, use 'ходить'.

Yes, it is an imperfective verb.

It is a common idiom meaning 'I am on my way'.

Use the future tense: 'Я буду идти' (rare) or perfective 'Я пойду'.

They are a challenge, but once you master the unidirectional/multidirectional pair, it becomes much easier.

Yes, animals walk (идут) or are transported (едут).

It follows the same unidirectional/multidirectional rules as 'идти'.