Possible meaning for 行く.

[derick78b]

Hey.

Once more while reading Naruto:

"数々の試練と戦いを経て成長して行くナルトたち� B"

That's what I got: "Naruto and his friends experienced many tasks and struggles to grow up as adults."

I don't know if it's correct.

Could you please correct me and tell me what does 行く mean in this phrase?

Thanks!

[Toritoribe]

That's not a sentence but just a phrase. 数々の試練と戦いを経て成長して行く modifies ナルトたち. Your translation means ナルトたちは成長するために数々の試練と戦いを経た.

〜て行く means the action/movement continues to the future in this case.

[derick78b]

So, the right "translation" would be:

"Many tasks and struggles experienced by Naruto and his friends are making them to grow up as adults."

Is that right?

Thanks Toritoribe.

[Glenn]

I think it's more like "Naruto and his friends continue to grow through the many tests and fights they face (literatlly, "go through" or "pass through")."

[Elizabeth]

〜て行く means the action/movement continues to the future in this case.

But you still see with 行く the point at which the action starts is in the present time, right ? (Even without Kore kara ha or something to explicitly indicate it)

[Toritoribe]

It totally depends on the context. 数々の試練と戦いを経て成長して行くナルトたち can be used also for the case that thier growth doesn't start yet. これからも or この先（は） can be the indicater for each cases, "it already started in the past" or "it will start in the future", respectively. However, this would be from an explanation of the story, so it seems to be used with "flashback" images to me.

[Elizabeth]

It totally depends on the context. 数々の試練と戦いを経て成長して行くナルトたち can be used also for the case that thier growth doesn't start yet. これからも or この先（は） can be the indicater for each cases, "it already started in the past" or "it will start in the future", respectively. However, this would be from an explanation of the story, so it seems to be used with "flashback" images to me.

Well that is what I was wondering. Because normally in my limited experience without a "Kore kara" or whatever qualifier, it is totally obvious (at least to me ) if the meaning is "continuing."

[Glenn]

Well, これからも would be continuing. これからは would be starting. これから would also be starting, I would guess, even though it doesn't have that contrasting element like これからは does.

[Elizabeth]

For instance, in terms of movement in time "Konbini wo riyou suru naka de [benri] no imi ya seikatsu no shitsu ga kawatte iku kanoshirenai." Without anything to indicate otherwise and based on the understanding of a phenomenon that is clearly already underway, from the past to the present, possibly from the present to the future would be my reading.

[Glenn]

I read it that way too.

[Elizabeth]

I didn't think while writing, but kamoshirenai is weak and could probably be better put as "darou." In any case, in the absence of context or guidance, a dominant interpretation of て行く as 'starting' basically seems more confusing, restricted and less acceptable than for 'continuing.' But there could be other crucial differences as well. て行く is unfortunately too rare altogether for good practice. ;=)

[Glenn]

Well, here are some I just pulled off of the first page of a Google search for "ていく".

人はお金をたくさん持っているほど非人道的になっていく。
インスタレーションアートとかの画像を淡々と貼っていく。
日本のかわいいアイドルを貼っていくよー。
仕事が暇だから俺が撮ったダンボーの写真を貼っていく。
夫婦がうまくやっていくためのちょっとしたコツ。
もともと赤の他人だった人たちが、夫婦として生活していくのが簡単なはずはありません。