Looking for help with Japanese verbs "iku" and "kuru" D:

[tammzii]

For the longest time in my Japanese class, we've been saying things like "Gakkou ni ikimasu". However, an example sentence from my teacher about how she spends her day was "Gakkou ni kimasu". I tried asking her why she didn't use the word "ikimasu" instead of "kimasu", but I didn't understand her explanation. My textbook also confuses me. I tried searching online but I don't understand what "movement towards/away from the speaker means. If anyone knows how "iku" and "kuru" are used, please inform me!

Comments

[renchan27.livejournal.com]

I'm going and I go are not the same in Japanese.

Ikimasu generally translates as "I'm going somewhere", kimasu more as " I go or I come ".

Now, going is an action that either hasn't happen yet or is an action that is currently happening. Whereas kimasu will be used once your action is completed. Kimashita will be used to refer this action when it has come to past, so when your teacher leaves school.

Makes senses? cause I can try explaining differently if needed :)

[tammzii.livejournal.com]

Ohh :O I like your explanation a lot better! My textbook translates iku as go and kuru as come. I think I understand what you mean but it's a bit difficult..

For our latest assignment, I have to describe a day in my life such as what time I wake up and that I go to school. From your explanation, I would say "Gakkou ni kimasu"/"I go to school", yes? The translation makes sense to me but I would say that the reason I used "kimasu" is because I'm not actually going somewhere -- just describing. This logic doesn't seem to fit with how kimasu is used once my action is completed. o.o?

Thanks for answering even though you're so busy lately :'D

[renchan27.livejournal.com]

I am busy but a reply doesn't take much time ;).

It depends the way you say it. For you to say Gakou ni kimasu you'd have to describe the day you are in and still be in school in the same action.
"I go to school" in that sense does not work, cause that is not the go of action but the go of description. The right word here would be "I attend school" or "I walk to school". Be careful english is not full proof. So in that case it would be Gakkou ni ikimashita (I went to school on that day but I'm not in that day anymore so the action is over).

The difference between both is very subtle and hard to grasp. I'd say the baest way to go about this would be to use the form "kara-made" so you'd give a time slot in which you go to school: gozen jyuuichijii kara gogo hachijii made gakou ni ikimasu. (I am in school from 11 in the morning to eight in the afternoon)

[tammzii.livejournal.com]

Ahhh okay. I will definitely be using that kara-made. It makes a bit more sense that way. Thanks so much!! :DD

[coldasice195852.livejournal.com]

For the longest time in my Japanese class we've been saying things like