〜ていく — Going on from now into the future | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Shows movement away from the present point or a gradual change that will continue into the future.

Formation

て form + いく — 帰っていきます
Motion away from the speaker, or a change continuing into the future

When to use it

Core use: Going on from now into the future

Examples

20 sentences

友達ともだちは先さきに帰っかえっていきました
My friend went off home before the others.
これからもっと暑くあつくなっていきます
From now on it will keep getting hotter.
子どもこどもはこれからどんどん大きくおおきくなっていきます
The child will keep growing from now on.
日本語にほんごの単語たんごを少しずつすこしずつ覚えおぼえていきます
I will keep learning Japanese words little by little.
この町まちは駅えきの周りまわりからもっと便利べんりに変わっかわっていきます
This town will keep becoming more convenient, starting around the station area.
毎日まいにち少しずつすこしずつ練習れんしゅうすると発音はつおんが自然しぜんによくなっていきます
If you practice a little every day, your pronunciation will gradually improve.
夕方ゆうがたになると鳥とりが森もりへ飛んとんでいきました
In the evening, the birds flew away toward the forest.
季節きせつとともに山やまの色いろが変わっかわっていきます
The colors of the mountains will keep changing with the seasons.

12 more examples

夢ゆめの旅行りょこうのため少しずつすこしずつお金おかねをためていきます
I will keep saving money little by little for my dream trip.
夕日ゆうひが沈むしずむと海うみが暗くくらくなっていきました
As the sun set, the sea gradually grew dark.
これから冬ふゆに向かっむかって寒くさむくなっていきます
From now on it will keep getting colder as winter approaches.
これからこの町まちの人口じんこうが増えふえていきます
From now on this town's population will keep increasing.
これから日本語にほんごが上手じょうずになっていきます
From now on my Japanese will keep getting better.
これから新しいあたらしい仕事しごとに慣れなれていきます
From now on I will gradually get used to the new job.
これから生活せいかつが便利べんりになっていきます
From now on life will keep getting more convenient.
これから音おとが小さくちいさくなっていきます
From now on the sound will keep getting quieter.
これから町まちの様子ようすが変わっかわっていきます
From now on the look of the town will keep changing.
これから古いふるい家いえが減っへっていきます
From now on the number of old houses will keep decreasing.
これから技術ぎじゅつが進歩しんぽしていきます
From now on technology will keep advancing.
これから空そらが明るくあかるくなっていきます
From now on the sky will gradually get brighter.

Important notes

ていく can express movement away or change continuing from the reference point into the future.

Common mistakes

寒くなってきた means it has been getting colder up to now; 寒くなっていく means it will keep getting colder. Choose by the direction in time, not only by physical movement.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 夢ゆめの旅行りょこうのため少しずつすこしずつお金おかねをためていきます Mother opens the door.I will keep saving money little by little for my dream trip.The light has been turned off to save electricity.
Sentence 2: これから生活せいかつが便利べんりになっていきます The door has been left open.I open the window.From now on life will keep getting more convenient.
Sentence 3: これから空そらが明るくあかるくなっていきます The door opens.From now on the sky will gradually get brighter.The meeting room door has been left open.

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

生まれた町の駅前N4 · 3 min 2 s