Japanese · Elementary (A2) · Chapter 8 of 12
Plans and invitations
予定と誘いYotei to sasoi
Make, accept, decline and change plans with friends in Japanese: the volitional (let's), つもり, 予定, から (because) and casual questions.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Say “let's” to friends with the volitional form
- Talk about your plans with つもり (tsumori) and 予定 (yotei)
- Give a reason with から (kara)
- Suggest another time and decline softly
Listen
Friends Aoki Riku and Honda Sara plan to see the fireworks at the Tenjin Festival in Osaka. They speak casually. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Riku
沙羅、二十五日の夜、暇？
Sara, nijūgonichi no yoru, hima?
Sara, are you free on the evening of the 25th?
Sara
うん、暇だよ。どうして？
Un, hima da yo. Dōshite?
Yes, I'm free. Why?
Riku
天神祭の花火大会、一緒に行こう。
Tenjin Matsuri no hanabi taikai, issho ni ikō.
Let's go to the Tenjin Festival fireworks together.
Sara
いいね、行こう。浴衣を着るつもり。
Ii ne, ikō. Yukata o kiru tsumori.
Great, let's go. I'm going to wear a yukata.
Riku
じゃあ、どこで待ち合わせる？
Jā, doko de machiawaseru?
So where shall we meet?
Sara
天満橋駅の改札で、六時はどう？
Tenmabashi eki no kaisatsu de, rokuji wa dō?
How about six o'clock at the ticket gates of Tenmabashi station?
Riku
六時はちょっと…。六時まで用事があるから。
Rokuji wa chotto… Rokuji made yōji ga aru kara.
Six is a bit… I've got something on until six.
Sara
そうなの？じゃあ、七時にしない？
Sō na no? Jā, shichiji ni shinai?
Oh, really? Then shall we make it seven?
Riku
七時は混むから、早めに行きたい。六時半はどう？
Shichiji wa komu kara, hayame ni ikitai. Rokuji han wa dō?
It gets crowded by seven, so I'd like to go a bit early. How about half past six?
Sara
うん、いいよ。楽しみ！
Un, ii yo. Tanoshimi!
Sure, fine. I can't wait.
Riku
二十六日も一緒に映画を見ない？
Nijūrokunichi mo issho ni eiga o minai?
Do you want to see a film together on the 26th too?
Sara
二十六日は家族と京都に行く予定なの。また今度ね。
Nijūrokunichi wa kazoku to Kyōto ni iku yotei na no. Mata kondo ne.
On the 26th I'm going to Kyoto with my family. Maybe next time.
Understand
Let's: the volitional ～よう／～おう
You know (ikimashō), let's go. Between friends, the plain version is the volitional form. Ru-verbs swap -ru for -yō: (taberu) → (tabeyō). U-verbs change their last -u to -ō: (iku) → (ikō). (suru) becomes (shiyō) and (kuru) becomes (koyō).
Add (ka) to make it “shall we?”: (ikō ka), shall we go?
| Dictionary form | Volitional (let's) | Polite |
|---|---|---|
| (taberu), eat | (tabeyō) | (tabemashō) |
| (miru), see | (miyō) | (mimashō) |
| (iku), go | (ikō) | (ikimashō) |
| (nomu), drink | (nomō) | (nomimashō) |
| (matsu), wait | (matō) | (machimashō) |
| (kau), buy | (kaō) | (kaimashō) |
| (suru), do | (shiyō) | (shimashō) |
| (kuru), come | (koyō) | (kimashō) |
Plans: つもり and 予定
Dictionary form + (tsumori desu) says what you intend to do: (yukata o kiru tsumori desu), I'm going to wear a yukata. For “I don't intend to”, use the ない-form: (ikanai tsumori desu).
Dictionary form + (yotei desu) is for something already arranged, a plan in your diary: (Kyōto ni iku yotei desu), I'm going to Kyoto. After a noun, use : (ashita no yotei), tomorrow's plans. Both are plain forms inside polite sentences; with friends, drop (desu), or say (yotei na no) or (yotei na n da).
- 浴衣を着るつもりです。Yukata o kiru tsumori desu.I'm going to wear a yukata.
- 二十六日は京都に行く予定です。Nijūrokunichi wa Kyōto ni iku yotei desu.On the 26th I'm going to Kyoto.
Casual invitations, reasons and questions
Among friends, the plain negative question invites: (eiga o minai?), do you want to see a film? It's the casual (mimasen ka). To suggest another time or thing, use ～にしない？ (ni shinai?): (shichiji ni shinai?), shall we make it seven? To decline softly, say the thing + (wa chotto…) and let the sentence trail off.
(kara) after a plain form gives a reason, “because, so”: (shichiji wa komu kara, hayame ni ikitai), it gets crowded at seven, so I want to go early. The reason comes first.
(no?) is a casual question asking for an explanation, and ～んだ (n da) or ～の (no) explains, like ～んです (n desu). After a noun or な-adjective they become (na no) and (na n da): (sō na no?), really? (jā) is the casual (de wa), “well then”.
More in the grammar: Invitations, suggestions and plans · Plain and polite forms · Sentence-ending particles: よ, ね and more
New words
- 暇himafree (time), not busy · ひま; な-adjective
- 花火大会hanabi taikaifireworks display · はなびたいかい; (hanabi), fireworks
- 行こうikōlet's go · いこう; volitional of (iku)
- 浴衣yukatayukata, a light summer kimono · ゆかた
- つもりtsumoriintention, plan · dictionary form + (tsumori desu)
- じゃあjāwell then, so · casual (de wa)
- 待ち合わせるmachiawaseruto meet up (at an agreed place) · まちあわせる; ru-verb. The noun is (machiawase).
- 改札kaisatsuticket gates · かいさつ; a common place to meet
- 用事yōjisomething to do, an errand · ようじ; (yōji ga aru), I've got something on
- 混むkomuto be crowded · こむ; u-verb
- 早めhayamea bit early · はやめ; (hayame ni iku), to go a bit early
- 楽しみtanoshimisomething to look forward to · たのしみ; (tanoshimi!), I can't wait
- 予定yoteiplan, schedule · よてい
- また今度mata kondomaybe next time · またこんど; a friendly way to say no to an invitation
Practise
1.What is the volitional (let's) form of (nomu), to drink?
2.Sara says she intends to wear a yukata. Which sentence is right?
3.Put the words in order: give a reason for going early.
Tap the words below in the right order.It gets crowded at seven, so I want to go early.
4.Match the Japanese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
5.A friend invites you out on Sunday, but you can't. What do you say?
6.Put the words in order: invite Sara to see a film.
Tap the words below in the right order.Sara, do you want to see a film together?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
土曜日、暇？
Doyōbi, hima?
Are you free on Saturday?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.