How do you say "I'm off." in Japanese?

"I'm off." in Japanese is "行ってきます。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🏃

How to Say ‘I'm off.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "行ってきます。" mean in English?

"行ってきます。" means "I'm off." in English. Usage tip: Literally, "I will go and come back." Say this when leaving home, work, or a group you expect to return to.

行ってきます。

itsu te ki masu

[eet teh kee mass]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally, "I will go and come back." Say this when leaving home, work, or a group you expect to return to.

🇯🇵 In Japan: This phrase is part of a classic pair: the person leaving says [行ってきます], and the person staying says [いってらっしゃい].

Phrase Breakdown

行って

itsu te

go and; heading off

From 行く ('to go') plus て-form, used in the set phrase for leaving home or a place.

Example

行ってきます。

I'm off.

Words in this phrase

行っ

itsu

[eet]

Te-form stem of 行く in the set phrase 行ってきます.

Example

これから行っきます。

I’m going now and will come back.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

Links 行く to くる in the expression 行ってきます.

Example

いま行ってきます。

I'm heading out now and will be back.

きます

ki masu

come back; will return

In this set phrase, it implies that the speaker will go out and come back later.

Example

ちょっと行ってきます。

I'm going out for a moment and will be back.

Words in this phrase

き

[kee]

come

Part of きます in 行ってきます, giving the sense of returning after going.

Example

すぐきます。

I’ll come soon.

ます

masu

[mass]

polite verb ending

Makes the expression polite and suitable for daily use.

Example

もういきます。

I'm leaving now.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager