Iketara Iku (行けたら行く - I'll Go If I Can)

When people are invited to play or drinking parties in Japan, some often say "iketara iku" (行けたら行く).

Although "iketara iku" literally means "I'll go if I can," this phrase seems to be often used when you don't want to go.

In fact, according to an questionnaire survey, most Japanese people think of this phrase as a negative reply.

However, the result of another questionnaire survey suggests that "iketara iku" has different meanings depending on the region.

According to the survey, the phrase tends to be used when you don't want to go in the Kansai region (western Japan), whereas it tends to be used when you actually want to go in the Kanto region (eastern Japan).

行けたら行く

遊びや飲み会に誘われた時、よく「行けたら行く」と言う人がいます。

文字どおりの意味は "I'll go if I can" ですが、このフレーズは社交辞令であることが多く、行く気がないときによく使われるようです。

アンケート調査によると、多くの日本人が、「行けたら行く」と言われとき「来る気が無いんだろうな」と考えるようです。

ただ、別のアンケートでは、地域によって「行けたら行く」の意味合いが異なる結果となりました。

関西では絶対に行きたくないときに、関東では行く気があるときに使われる傾向にあるようです。

• In fact, according to an questionnaire survey, most Japanese people think of this phrase as a negative reply.
• In fact, according to a questionnaire survey, most Japanese people think of this phrase as a negative reply.

Well written and very interesting.