Japanese Go, Come, Return: Ikimasu, Kimasu, Kaerimasu with Ni/E/De

Japanese Movement Verbs: Go, Come, Return with Ni, E and De (JLPT N5)

Learn how to talk about movement in Japanese for JLPT N5 using ikimasu (go), kimasu (come), and kaerimasu (return/go home). This lesson explains how to use the particles ni and e for destinations and de for means (by train, by bike, by email) with clear example sentences like “Shibuya ni ikimasu,” “MLC e kimasu,” and “Nihongo de hanashimasu.”

Basic Verbs: Ikimasu, Kimasu, Kaerimasu

go = 行きます　いきます　ikimasu

come = 来ます　きます　kimasu

return; come back; go home = 帰ります　かえります　kaerimasu

いきます、きます、かえります　ikimasu, kimasu, kaerimasu
  • わたしは　しぶやに/へ　いきます。Watashi wa Shibuya ni/eikimasu. = I go to Shibuya.
  • わたしは　MLCに/へ　きます。Watashi wa MLC ni/ekimasu. = I come to MLC.
  • わたしは　うちに/へ　かえります。Watashi wa uchi ni/ekaerimasu. = I go back home.
  • がっこうに/へ　いきます。Gakkou ni/e ikimasu. =(I) go to school.
Practice video: ikimsu, kimasu, kaerimasu

 

Particles Ni and E for Destinations

～にいきます。～へいきます。...ni ikimasu, ...e ikimasu.
  • に ni = to, "goal"
  • へ e = originally "direction"
  • がっこうに　いきます。Gakkouniikimasu. = (I) go to school.
  • がっこうへ　いきます。Gakkoueikimasu. = (I) go to school.

Note: Ni and e are often interchangeable for simple movement verbs like ikimasu, kimasu, and kaerimasu (e.g., gakkou ni/e ikimasu). However, only ni is used for “to someone” with verbs like aimasu (to meet) and agemasu (to give), so “tomodachi ni aimasu” is correct, but “tomodachi e aimasu” is not.

ex.

こちらに どうぞ。Kochira ni douzo. = Lit. To here, please.

こちらへ どうぞ。Kochira e douzo. = Lit. To here/this way, please.


うちに かえります。Uchi ni kaerimasu. = Lit. (I) return/go back to home.

うちへ かえります。Uchi e kaerimasu. = Lit. (I) return/go back to home.

へ is pronounced “e” as a particle, “he” in other words.

ex. へん = hen (strange), 返事 へんじ henji = reply


”ni” and “e” are not always interchangeable.

ex.

ともだちに あいます。Tomodachi ni aimasu. = Lit. See/meet (my) friend. ←○

ともだちへ あいます。Tomodachi e aimasu. ←X

ともだちに プレゼントを あげます。Tomodachi ni purezento o agemasu. = (I) give a present to my friend. ←○

ともだちへ プレゼントを あげます。Tomodachi e purezento o agemasu. ←X

 

○= OK

X= no good

Particle De for Means and Tools

～で ...de (by means of; using)
  • わたしはじてんしゃでがっこうに いきます。Watashi wajitensha degakkou ni ikimasu. = I go to school by bicycle.
  • わたしはでんしゃでここに きました。Watashi wadensha dekoko ni kimashita. = I came here by train.
  • わたしはあるいてうちに かえります。Watashi waaruiteuchi ni kaerimasu. = I go back home on foot.

Example Sentences for Travel and Daily Life

  • くるまで いきます。Kuruma de ikimasu. = Lit. (I) go by car.
  • タクシーで きました。Takushii de kimasshita. = Lit. (I) came by taxi.
  • じてんしゃで かえります。Jitensha de kaerimasu. = Lit. (I) go home/return by bicycle.
  • メールで しゃしんを おくります。Meeru de shashin o okurimasu. = Lit. (I) send a picture by e-mail.
  • ペンで かきます。Pen de kakimasu. = Lit. (I) write by pen.
  • おはしで たべます。Ohashi de tabemasu. = Lit. (I) eat by chopsticks.
  • にほんごで メールを かきます。Nihongo de meeru o kakimasu. = Lit. (I) write e-mail in Nihongo.(using Nihongo)
  • にほんごで はなします。Nihongo de hanashimasu. = Lit. (I) speak in Nihongo.
  • クレジットカードで はらいます。Kurejittokaado de haraimasu. = Lit. (I) pay by credit card.
  • インターネットで にほんごを べんきょうします。Intaanetto de Nihongo o benkyou shimasu. = Lit. (I) study Nihongo by the internet.
  • インターネットで チェックします。Intaanetto de chekku shimasu. = Lit. (I) check by ithe nternet.
  • けいたいで PDFファイルを みます。Keitai de PDF fairu o mimasu. = Lit. (I) see PDF file by cell phone.
  • スマホで しゃしんを とります。Sumaho de shashin o torimasu. = Lit. (I) take a picture by smartphone.

Updated Dec. 2025