Japanese grammar · Beginner (A1)
Invitations, suggestions and plans
Inviting with ～ませんか, suggesting with ～ましょう(か), the plain volitional ～よう／～おう, and plans with ～つもり and ～予定.
Inviting: ～ませんか
The polite way to invite someone is a negative question: the ます stem + ませんか (-masen ka), “won't you …?”. (issho ni ocha o nomimasen ka) means “would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”.
Because it is a question, it leaves the other person free to say no, which makes it the most considerate way to invite. To accept, say (ii desu ne, that sounds good) or (zehi, I'd love to).
- 日曜日にテニスをしませんか。Nichiyōbi ni tenisu o shimasen ka.Would you like to play tennis on Sunday?
- 一緒にお茶を飲みませんか。Issho ni ocha o nomimasen ka.Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?
- いいですね。ぜひ。Ii desu ne. Zehi.That sounds good. I'd love to.
Let's: ～ましょう, and shall we: ～ましょうか
The ます stem + ましょう (-mashō) means “let's …”. It is used when you both already agree, or to move a plan forward: (jā, jūji ni aimashō, OK, let's meet at ten).
Adding gives ましょうか (-mashō ka), “shall we …?”, a softer suggestion. It also means “shall I …?” when you offer to do something for someone: (nimotsu o mochimashō ka, shall I carry your bag?).
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ～ませんか (-masen ka) | would you like to …? | (Eiga o mimasen ka) Would you like to see a film? |
| ～ましょう (-mashō) | let's … | (Eiga o mimashō) Let's see a film. |
| ～ましょうか (-mashō ka) | shall we …? | (Nani o mimashō ka) What shall we see? |
| ～ましょうか (-mashō ka) | shall I …? | (Mado o akemashō ka) Shall I open the window? |
- そろそろ帰りましょう。Sorosoro kaerimashō.Let's head home soon.
- 駅で会いましょうか。Eki de aimashō ka.Shall we meet at the station?
- 荷物を持ちましょうか。Nimotsu o mochimashō ka.Shall I carry your bag?
Saying no gently
A direct “no” is rare. People usually start to give a reason and leave the sentence unfinished: (doyōbi wa chotto…), literally “Saturday is a little …”, is understood as a polite no.
You can add (sumimasen, sorry) or (zannen desu ga, unfortunately), and show that you'd like to go another time with (mata kondo onegai shimasu, maybe next time).
- 土曜日はちょっと…。Doyōbi wa chotto…Saturday's a bit difficult.
- すみません、その日は用事があります。Sumimasen, sono hi wa yōji ga arimasu.Sorry, I have something on that day.
- また今度お願いします。Mata kondo onegai shimasu.Maybe next time.
The plain volitional: ～よう and ～おう (A2)
Between friends, “let's” is the plain volitional form (the form that expresses will). Ru-verbs drop る and add よう: (tabeyō, let's eat). U-verbs change their last u sound to the matching o sound and add う: (ikō, let's go). The irregular verbs give (shiyō) and (koyō).
With a question mark it asks what to do: (nani o tabeyō?, what shall we eat?). With (to omoimasu) it says what you are thinking of doing: (hayaku neyō to omoimasu, I think I'll go to bed early).
| Dictionary form | Polite | Plain volitional |
|---|---|---|
| (taberu, eat) | (tabemashō) | (tabeyō) |
| (iku, go) | (ikimashō) | (ikō) |
| (nomu, drink) | (nomimashō) | (nomō) |
| (kaeru, go home) | (kaerimashō) | (kaerō) |
| (matsu, wait) | (machimashō) | (matō) |
| (hanasu, speak) | (hanashimashō) | (hanasō) |
| (kau, buy) | (kaimashō) | (kaō) |
| (suru, do) | (shimashō) | (shiyō) |
| (kuru, come) | (kimashō) | (koyō) |
- 一緒に帰ろう。Issho ni kaerō.Let's go home together.
- 何を食べよう？Nani o tabeyō?What shall we eat?
- 今年は日本語の勉強をがんばろうと思います。Kotoshi wa Nihongo no benkyō o ganbarō to omoimasu.This year I'm going to work hard at my Japanese.
Plans: ～つもり and ～予定
To say what you intend to do, put the dictionary form before (tsumori desu): (natsuyasumi ni Hokkaidō ni iku tsumori desu, I'm planning to go to Hokkaido in the summer holidays). For “I don't intend to”, use the plain negative (A2): (kawanai tsumori desu).
(yotei) means a plan or a schedule. It sounds more settled than (tsumori), something arranged or on the calendar: (raishū, Kyōto ni shutchō suru yotei desu, I'm due to go to Kyoto on business next week). After a noun or a phrase such as (sanji kara), add (no): (sanji kara no yotei desu, it's planned for three o'clock).
- 夏休みに北海道に行くつもりです。Natsuyasumi ni Hokkaidō ni iku tsumori desu.I'm planning to go to Hokkaido in the summer holidays.
- 今年は車を買わないつもりです。Kotoshi wa kuruma o kawanai tsumori desu.I'm not going to buy a car this year.
- 来週、京都に出張する予定です。Raishū, Kyōto ni shutchō suru yotei desu.I'm due to go to Kyoto on business next week.
- 会議は三時からの予定です。Kaigi wa sanji kara no yotei desu.The meeting is scheduled to start at three.