ていく【～ていく】

The grammar structure ～ていく combines the て-form of a verb with いく (to go). It expresses several related ideas, all sharing a sense of movement away from the speaker or progression forward in time.

Doing something and then going

In its most literal use, ～ていく means to do an action and then leave, or to do something before heading out.

This usage is very common with もつ持つ → もっていく持っていく (to take something along), and つれる連れる → つれていく連れていく (to take someone along).

Gradual change continuing into the future

～ていく describes a change that progresses from now onward. It emphasizes that something will gradually shift over time, moving away from the present state.

This contrasts with ～てくる, which describes a change that has been approaching up to now. Compare:

• 寒くなっていく → It will get colder (from now into the future).
• 寒くなってきた → It has gotten colder (up until now).

Continuing an action into the future

～ていく can express a determination or intention to keep doing something going forward.

Moving away while doing something

When combined with motion-related verbs, ～ていく describes an action performed while moving away from the speaker or reference point.

Conjugation

Since いく is a regular godan verb, it conjugates normally:

• Past: ～ていった
• Polite: ～ていきます
• Negative: ～ていかない
• Volitional: ～ていこう