At the A1 level, you learn 'motte iku' as a simple phrase for daily life. It's often introduced alongside 'motte kuru' (bring). You use it to talk about taking basic items like a bag, an umbrella, or a phone when you go out. The focus is on the present and simple past: 'I take' or 'I took.' You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet, just the idea of 'holding something and going somewhere.'
At the A2 level, you start using 'motte iku' in more varied sentences. You learn to combine it with destinations using particles like 'ni' and 'e.' You also learn the polite form 'motte ikimasu' and the casual 'motte iku.' You can now explain *why* you are taking something, such as 'I'm taking my camera because I want to take photos.' You also learn the difference between taking things (motte iku) and taking people (tsurete iku).
At the B1 level, you use 'motte iku' in complex sentence structures, such as 'motte ikanakereba narimasu' (must take) or 'motte itte mo ii desu ka' (may I take?). You understand the nuance of the 'te-form' indicating a continuous state. You also begin to recognize the contracted form 'motteku' in casual conversation and can use the verb to describe more abstract situations, like taking a project to a different department.
At the B2 level, you master the directional nuances. You can use 'motte iku' to describe the flow of information or trends. You also start using more formal versions like 'omochi itashimasu' (humble) in business settings. You understand how 'motte iku' functions in conditional sentences (e.g., 'If you take this, it will be easier') and can distinguish it from more specific verbs like 'hakobu' (transport) or 'tenkai suru' (to develop/take forward).
At the C1 level, you use 'motte iku' in sophisticated contexts, including literary or formal writing. You understand its use in idiomatic expressions where 'taking' something implies a change in state or a strategic move. You are comfortable with the passive and causative forms, such as 'motte ikaseru' (to make someone take something). You also recognize when 'motte iku' is used to mean 'to lead' or 'to steer' a discussion in a certain direction.
At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'motte iku.' You can use it to describe subtle shifts in momentum, such as 'taking the lead' in a high-stakes negotiation or 'carrying' a legacy forward into the future. You understand the historical etymology of the compound and can use it with perfect register awareness, switching between highly colloquial slang and the most formal honorifics without hesitation.

持って行く em 30 segundos

  • Core meaning: To take (an object) away from the speaker.
  • Grammar: Te-form of 'motsu' + 'iku'. Used with particle 'o'.
  • Distinction: Use 'tsurete iku' for people, 'motte kuru' for bringing.
  • Commonly heard as 'motteku' in casual daily Japanese speech.

The Japanese verb 持って行く (motte iku) is a fundamental compound verb that literally translates to 'to hold and go.' In practical usage, it means 'to take' something from the current location to another place. It is composed of the te-form of 持つ (motsu - to hold/carry) and the motion verb 行く (iku - to go). This directional aspect is crucial in Japanese grammar; it describes an action moving away from the speaker's current sphere of presence.

Core Concept: Directionality
Unlike the English 'take,' which can sometimes be ambiguous regarding direction, 持って行く always implies movement away from the 'here and now.' If you are at home and taking your umbrella to work, you use this verb. If you are already at work and talking about bringing something there, you would use its counterpart, 持って来る (motte kuru).
Object Limitation
This verb is strictly used for inanimate objects or small animals that can be 'carried.' For people or larger animals that walk on their own, the verb 連れて行く (tsurete iku) is required. Using 持って行く for a person would imply you are physically lifting and carrying them like a piece of luggage.

「明日、お弁当を学校に持って行きます。」

— "I will take a lunch box to school tomorrow."

In casual speech, the 'i' in 'iku' is often dropped or slurred, resulting in 持ってく (motteku). This is extremely common in daily conversation among friends and family. Understanding this contraction is key to natural listening comprehension. Furthermore, in polite business contexts, you will see the humble form お持ちする (omochi suru) or the honorific お持ちになる (omochi ni naru), though these shift the focus slightly away from the 'going' aspect to the 'holding/offering' aspect.

Using 持って行く correctly requires attention to the particle を (o) for the object and に (ni) or へ (e) for the destination. The structure follows: [Object] を [Destination] に 持って行く.

Conjugation Basics
  • Polite Present: 持って行きます (motte ikimasu)
  • Polite Past: 持って行きました (motte ikimashita)
  • Casual Negative: 持って行かない (motte ikanai)
  • Te-form (Request): 持って行ってください (motte itte kudasai)

「傘を持って行ったほうがいいですよ。雨が降りそうですから。」

— "You should take an umbrella. It looks like it's going to rain."

One advanced nuance involves the 'resultative' state. When you say 持って行っている (motte itte iru), it can mean you are currently in the process of taking it, or it can mean you have already taken it and it is currently at the destination. Context is king here. For example, if someone asks where the stapler is, you might say 'Tanaka-san ga motte itte iru' (Tanaka has taken it [and still has it there]).

You will encounter 持って行く in almost every facet of Japanese life, from the classroom to the boardroom. It is a 'utility verb' that covers everything from physical transport to abstract concepts like 'taking a conversation to the next level' (though the latter is more metaphorical).

Scenario A: The Morning Routine
Parents often shout to their children: 「忘れ物はない?教科書、ちゃんと持って行った?」 (Did you forget anything? Did you take your textbooks?). Here, the focus is on the transition from the home to the school.
Scenario B: Business & Delivery
In a restaurant, if you want your food to go, you might hear or use the phrase 「テイクアウトで持って行きます」 (I will take it to go). In an office, a boss might say, 「この資料を会議室に持って行って」 (Take these documents to the meeting room).

「パーティーに何をして持って行けばいいですか?」

— "What should I bring (take) to the party?"

The most frequent error for English speakers is the confusion between take and bring. In English, 'bring' can sometimes be used for movement away from the speaker (e.g., 'I'll bring it to your house'), but in Japanese, the distinction is rigid.

Mistake 1: Directional Confusion
Using 持って来る (motte kuru) when you are leaving your current location to go somewhere else.
「今からあなたの家にプレゼントを持って来ます。」 (Wrong if you are currently at your own house).
「今からあなたの家にプレゼントを持って行きます。」 (Correct).
Mistake 2: Animateness Error
Using 持って行く for people.
「子供を公園に持って行きました。」 (Implies you carried the child like a bag).
「子供を公園に連れて行きました。」 (Correct: took the child to the park).

「友達をパーティーに持って行ってもいいですか?」

— This sounds like you are planning to carry your friend in a box. Use 「連れて行っても」 instead!

While 持って行く is the most common way to say 'take,' several other verbs offer more specific nuances depending on the weight, method, or formality of the action.

運ぶ (Hakobu) - To Transport
Focuses on the physical labor of moving something, often heavy or in large quantities. While motte iku is just 'taking,' hakobu is 'transporting' or 'carrying.'
持ち出す (Mochidasu) - To Take Out
Specifically refers to taking something out of a building or a restricted area. Often used in contexts like 'taking out library books' or 'leaking (taking out) confidential info.'
届ける (Todokeru) - To Deliver
Implies taking something to a specific recipient or destination with the intent of handing it over. If you find a lost wallet, you todokeru it to the police.

「重い荷物をトラックで運びます。」

— "I will transport heavy luggage by truck." (More specific than motte iku)

How Formal Is It?

Nível de dificuldade

Gramática essencial

Te-form + Iku/Kuru

Directional Particles Ni/E

Transitive Verbs

Nominalization with No/Koto

Polite vs Casual forms

Exemplos por nível

1

傘を持って行きます。

I will take an umbrella.

Simple present/future polite form.

2

カバンを持って行きました。

I took my bag.

Simple past polite form.

3

これを持って行ってください。

Please take this.

Te-form + kudasai (request).

4

お弁当を持って行く。

I take my lunch.

Casual dictionary form.

5

ペンを持って行かない。

I don't take a pen.

Casual negative form.

6

本を三冊持って行きます。

I will take three books.

Using counters with the object.

7

カメラを持って行った?

Did you take the camera?

Casual past question.

8

水を持って行こう。

Let's take some water.

Volitional form (let's).

1

学校に辞書を持って行きます。

I take a dictionary to school.

Destination + ni + motte iku.

2

明日、海にタオルを持って行こう。

Let's take towels to the beach tomorrow.

Time marker + destination + volitional.

3

重いから、車で持って行きます。

It's heavy, so I'll take it by car.

Reason (kara) + method (de).

4

何も持って行かないでください。

Please don't take anything.

Negative te-form + kudasai.

5

お土産を持って行きましたか?

Did you take a souvenir?

Polite past question.

6

パソコンを持って行くのを忘れました。

I forgot to take my laptop.

Verb nominalization (no o wasureru).

7

友達の家にケーキを持って行きます。

I'm taking a cake to my friend's house.

Possessive + destination.

8

これを全部持って行っていいですか?

May I take all of this?

Te-form + mo ii desu ka (permission).

1

パスポートを持って行くのを忘れないで。

Don't forget to take your passport.

Nominalized verb + negative request.

2

雨が降るかもしれないから、傘を持って行ったほうがいい。

You should take an umbrella because it might rain.

Probability (kamoshirenai) + advice (hou ga ii).

3

会議の資料を十部持って行ってください。

Please take ten copies of the meeting materials.

Specific quantity in a formal context.

4

誰がその荷物を持って行ったんですか?

Who was it that took that luggage?

Explanatory 'n desu' form.

5

もっとたくさんのお金を持って行くべきでした。

I should have taken more money.

Should have (beki deshita).

6

この古いテレビをどこに持って行けばいいですか?

Where should I take this old TV?

Conditional (eba) + ii desu ka.

7

彼はいつも辞書を持ち歩いています(持って行っています)。

He is always carrying (taking around) a dictionary.

Continuous state (te iru).

8

お酒を持って行くのは禁止されています。

Taking alcohol is prohibited.

Passive voice + nominalization.

1

その件は、私が責任を持って行きます。

I will take responsibility for that matter.

Abstract usage of 'taking' responsibility.

2

このプロジェクトを成功に持って行くために努力します。

I will work hard to lead this project to success.

Metaphorical 'taking' to a state.

3

貴重品は必ず手元に持って行ってください。

Please be sure to keep (take) valuables with you.

Formal instruction.

4

彼が資料を持って行ってしまったので、確認できません。

He took the documents (regrettably), so I can't check them.

Te-shimau (regret/completion).

5

必要最低限のものだけを持って行くことにした。

I decided to take only the bare minimum.

Decision (koto ni shita).

6

ゴミは各自で持って帰る(持って行く)のがルールです。

The rule is for everyone to take their trash back with them.

Social rule/expectation.

7

どこへ持って行っても恥ずかしくない品質だ。

It's a quality that wouldn't be embarrassing no matter where you take it.

Concessive (te mo).

8

話が思わぬ方向に持って行かれた。

The conversation was taken in an unexpected direction.

Passive voice (metaphorical).

1

議論を核心に持って行く必要がある。

We need to take the discussion to the core issue.

Strategic/Abstract usage.

2

彼はその場を自分のペースに持って行くのが上手だ。

He is good at taking the situation at his own pace.

Psychological/Social nuance.

3

この技術を次世代に持って行くことが我々の使命だ。

It is our mission to take this technology to the next generation.

Grand/Visionary usage.

4

証拠を裁判所に持って行く準備は整った。

Preparations to take the evidence to court are complete.

Formal/Legal context.

5

強引に自分の意見に持って行こうとするのは良くない。

It's not good to try to force the conversation toward your own opinion.

Causative/Intentional nuance.

6

そのアイディアを形に持って行くプロセスが重要だ。

The process of taking that idea into a concrete form is important.

Process-oriented usage.

7

不祥事をうやむやに持って行こうとする動きがある。

There is a move to try and steer the scandal into obscurity.

Political/Critical nuance.

8

彼はすべての功績を自分の方へ持って行ってしまった。

He took all the credit for himself.

Idiomatic 'taking' of credit.

1

伝統を現代的な解釈へと持って行く試みがなされている。

Attempts are being made to bring (take) tradition into a modern interpretation.

Academic/Cultural analysis.

2

政権は世論を改憲へと持って行こうと躍起になっている。

The administration is desperate to steer (take) public opinion toward constitutional reform.

High-level political discourse.

3

物語の結末をあえて悲劇に持って行くことで、読者に衝撃を与えた。

By intentionally taking the story's ending toward tragedy, the author shocked the readers.

Literary criticism.

4

この素材の良さを最大限に持って行く調理法だ。

This is a cooking method that takes the quality of the ingredients to their maximum potential.

Artistic/Professional nuance.

5

交渉を有利な条件に持って行くための布石を打つ。

To make strategic moves to take the negotiation toward favorable terms.

Strategic idiom.

6

資本を海外へ持って行く動きが加速している。

The movement of taking capital overseas is accelerating.

Economic context.

7

人類の英知を宇宙へと持って行く時代が来た。

The era has come to take human wisdom into space.

Philosophical/Scientific scale.

8

彼は自らの命を絶つ(持って行く)ような極限状態にあった。

He was in such an extreme state that he might take his own life.

Euphemistic/Extreme context.

Colocações comuns

傘を持って行く (take an umbrella)
弁当を持って行く (take a lunch)
プレゼントを持って行く (take a gift)
資料を持って行く (take documents)
ゴミを持って行く (take out trash)
カバンを持って行く (take a bag)
お金を持って行く (take money)
カメラを持って行く (take a camera)
手土産を持って行く (take a small gift)
予備を持って行く (take a spare)

Frequentemente confundido com

持って行く vs 持って来る

持って行く vs 連れて行く

持って行く vs 運ぶ

Fácil de confundir

持って行く vs

持って行く vs

持って行く vs

持って行く vs

持って行く vs

Padrões de frases

Família de palavras

Relacionado

持ち物 (mochimono)
持ち主 (mochinushi)
金持ち (kanemochi)
持ち味 (mochiaji)

Como usar

direction

Always away from the speaker.

animateness

Inanimate objects only.

Erros comuns
  • Using 'motte iku' for people.
  • Using 'motte kuru' when moving away from the current location.
  • Forgetting the 'te' in 'motte'.
  • Using 'ni' instead of 'o' for the object.
  • Confusing 'motte iku' with 'motte kaeru' (taking home).

Dicas

The Te-Form Rule

Always use the te-form of 'motsu' to connect to 'iku'. Never say 'motsu iku'.

Bento Culture

Taking a lunch box (bento) is a huge part of Japanese life. Practice saying 'Bento o motte ikimasu'.

Contractions

Try saying 'motteku' quickly to sound like a native speaker in casual settings.

Directional Cues

If you hear 'iku', the person is leaving. If you hear 'kuru', they are arriving.

Kanji Practice

The kanji 持 (hold) has the 'hand' radical on the left. It helps you remember it's about carrying.

Compound Verbs

Japanese loves compound verbs. Learning 'motte iku' opens the door to many others.

Humble Form

In business, use 'omochi shimasu' to sound professional and polite.

People vs Objects

Never 'motte iku' your girlfriend. You must 'tsurete iku' her!

Office Usage

Taking documents to another floor is a classic 'motte iku' situation.

Visualizing

Visualize yourself holding a box and walking away from your house.

Memorize

Origem da palavra

Compound of Old Japanese 'motsu' (to hold) and 'iku' (to go).

Contexto cultural

Japan has strict rules about 'motte kaeru' (taking trash home).

Always use both hands when handing over what you 'motte itta'.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Iniciadores de conversa

"旅行に何を持って行きますか?"

"お弁当は毎日持って行っていますか?"

"無人島に一つだけ持って行くなら何?"

"パーティーに何を持って行けばいいと思う?"

"仕事に必ず持って行くものは何ですか?"

Temas para diário

今日、カバンの中に何を持って行きましたか?

大切な人に持って行きたいプレゼントは何ですか?

子供の頃、学校に持って行くのが好きだったものは?

将来、海外に持って行きたい日本のものは?

昨日、忘れ物をして持って行くのを忘れたものはありますか?

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

Usually no. Use 'tsurete iku' if the dog walks. If it's a tiny dog in a bag, you *could* use 'motte iku', but 'tsurete iku' is safer.

'Motte iku' is general 'taking'. 'Hakobu' implies transporting something, often heavy or using a vehicle.

No, it's just casual. Use it with friends, but use 'motte ikimasu' with teachers or bosses.

Use 'motte kaeru' (hold and return home).

Yes, like 'taking a discussion to a conclusion', but it's more common for physical objects.

In casual speech, very often. In formal speech, never.

The particle 'o' (を).

The particle 'ni' (に) or 'e' (へ).

Motte ikitai (持っていきたい).

Motte ikanaide (持っていかないで).

Teste-se 180 perguntas

/ 180 correct

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