赴く

• Reading: おもむく
• Romaji: omomuku
• Kanji breakdown: 赴 (fu/omomu) — proceed, go to, repair to
• Pronunciation: /o.mo.mɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To go to; to proceed toward; to head for. A formal or literary way of saying to go somewhere with purpose.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb used in formal, literary, or official contexts to describe going somewhere with a specific purpose. More purposeful and dignified than 行く. Often used for official duties, assigned posts, or significant journeys. Common in news, historical narratives, and formal writing.

Examples

1. 新しい赴任地に赴くことになった。 I was ordered to proceed to a new post.
2. 大臣は被災地に赴いて現状を視察した。 The minister traveled to the disaster area to inspect the current situation.
3. 事態は予想通りに赴いている。 The situation is unfolding as expected.

Usage Guide

Context: official duties, news, literary writing

Tone: dignified

Origin & History

The kanji 赴 combines 走 (run) and 卜 (divination/direction), suggesting running toward a determined direction. Originally used in Classical Chinese for proceeding toward a destination with resolve.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Professional