1.
to go to pick someone up; to go to meet and bring someone back
To travel to a location in order to meet someone and accompany or transport them back. Commonly used for picking up children, guests, or family members.
子どもを迎えに行く。
I'm going to pick up my child.
空港まで友人を迎えに行った。
I went to the airport to pick up my friend.
雨が降ってきたから、駅まで傘を持って迎えに行こうか。
It started raining, so shall I go to the station with an umbrella to pick you up?
A very common everyday expression using the pattern verb stem + に行く (to go in order to do something). The verb 迎える means to welcome or receive, and combined with に行く it specifically means going somewhere to meet and bring someone back.
USAGE:
- 迎えに行く means you go to the other person's location
- 迎えに来る means someone comes to your location to pick you up
- Often used with を to specify who you're picking up: 子どもを迎えに行く
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 子どもを迎えに行く: to pick up one's child
- 空港に迎えに行く: to go to the airport to pick someone up
- 駅まで迎えに行く: to go to the station to meet someone
- 車で迎えに行く: to go pick someone up by car
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 迎えに来る: to come to pick someone up — the reverse perspective
- 送り迎え: pickup and drop-off — the noun form covering both directions