When you want to invite someone to do something together in Japanese, you use “Let’s ~”. There are a few ways to say this, depending on the situation. Let’s jump in with simple explanations and examples!

1. Using ～ましょう for Polite Invitations

If you want to say “Let’s ~” in a polite way, use ～ましょう with a verb in the ます-form.

How to form it:

1. Take the ます-form of the verb.
2. Remove ます and add ましょう.

Examples:

・食たべます → 食たべましょう (tabemasu → tabemashou)
お寿司すしを食たべましょう！
(Let’s eat sushi!)

・行いきます → 行いきましょう (ikimasu → ikimashou)
公園こうえんに行いきましょう！
(Let’s go to the park!)

・勉強べんきょうします → 勉強べんきょうしましょう (benkyou shimasu → benkyou shimashou)
日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしましょう！
(Let’s study Japanese!)

This form is often used in formal or neutral situations.

2. Using ～よう / ～おう for Casual Invitations

In casual speech, you can use the volitional form of a verb to say “Let’s ~”.

How to form it:

• For Group 1 (U-verbs): Change the う (u) sound to おう (ou).
• For Group 2 (Ru-verbs): Replace る (ru) with よう (you).
• For Irregular verbs:
  • する → しよう
  • くる → こよう

Examples:

・食たべる → 食たべよう (taberu → tabeyou)
ピザを食たべよう！
(Let’s eat pizza!)

・遊あそぶ → 遊あそぼう (asobu → asobou)
ゲームで遊あそぼう！
(Let’s play a game!)

・行いく → 行いこう (iku → ikou)
カフェに行いこう！
(Let’s go to a cafe!)

This form is used in casual conversations with friends or family.

3. Using ～ませんか？ for Gentle Invitations

If you want to invite someone in a more polite and soft way, you can use ～ませんか？

How to form it:

1. Take the ます-form of the verb.
2. Replace ます with ませんか？

Examples:

・行いきます → 行いきませんか？
一緒いっしょに映画えいがを見みに行いきませんか？
(Would you like to go watch a movie together?)

・飲のみます → 飲のみませんか？
コーヒーを飲のみませんか？
(Shall we drink coffee?)

This is often used in polite or formal situations, like inviting a colleague or someone you don’t know well.

Summary Table

Practice Time!

Try making sentences using ～ましょう or ～よう / ～おう.
What would you say in these situations?

1. You want to say “Let’s study together!”
2. You want to invite a friend to go shopping with “Let’s go shopping!”
3. You want to politely suggest going for a walk “Shall we take a walk?”

Write your answers in the comments! 

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