GRAMMAR DETAIL

に行く

go to do

Follows a verb stem or action noun to indicate movement to a particular place for the purpose of performing that action.

Examples

友達と駅前へ昼ご飯を食べに行った。

I went to eat lunch near the station with a friend.

週末に友達の家へ遊びに行く。

I am going to a friend's house to hang out this weekend.

午後、郵便局へ荷物を出しに行きます。

I am going to the post office this afternoon to mail a package.

Structure: A verb's ます stem or an action noun takes に行く.
Basic usage: 午後、郵便局へ荷物を出しに行きます。 describes going to the post office for the purpose of mailing a package.

Destination and purpose
- In 郵便局へ荷物を出しに行く, へ marks the destination and に the purpose of movement. 荷物を remains the object of the preceding verb 出す.
Making the trip and achieving its purpose
- 買いに行った states that someone went to buy something; 買ってきた also states buying it and coming back. Distinguish going for a purpose from accomplishing it.