When you’re making plans or inviting someone to do something with you in Japanese, you’ll often need to say “Let’s do ___!” Just like in English, Japanese has a couple of ways to express this. Two of the most common are:

• 〜ましょう
• 〜よう

Let’s take a closer look at each one and learn how to use them naturally!

1. ～ましょう：The Polite “Let’s”

✅ What it is:

〜ましょう is the polite and common way to say “Let’s ___” in Japanese. It’s perfect for daily conversations, especially when you’re talking to someone you’re not super close to or want to sound respectful.

🔧 How to form it:

Take the ます-form of the verb and change ます to ましょう.

💬 Example Sentences:

• ごはんをたべましょう。
  Let’s eat a meal.
• いっしょにいきましょう。
  Let’s go together.
• コーヒーをのみましょうか？
  Shall we drink some coffee?

🎯 When to use:

Use 〜ましょう when:

• You want to sound polite
• You’re talking to coworkers, teachers, or people you don’t know well
• You’re making a suggestion or inviting someone to do something

2. ～よう：The Casual “Let’s”

✅ What it is:

〜よう is the casual version of “Let’s ___.” It’s often used among friends or family.

🔧 How to form it:

This one is a bit more grammar-heavy, but here’s the breakdown:

• For る-verbs (like たべる):
  Drop る and add よう → たべる → たべよう
• For う-verbs (like のむ):
  Change the final u sound to the o-sound + う
  → のむ → のもう
• For irregular verbs:
  • する → しよう
  • くる → こよう

💬 Example Sentences:

• ピザをたべよう！
  Let’s eat pizza!
• あとであそぼう。
  Let’s hang out later.
• もういちどやってみよう。
  Let’s try it one more time.

🎯 When to use:

Use 〜よう when:

• You’re talking to close friends or family
• You want to sound natural or relaxed
• You’re thinking out loud (sometimes it’s even used like “Hmm, I think I’ll do this…”)

Comparison: ～ましょう vs ～よう

Summary

Learning how to say “Let’s do” in Japanese is super useful for inviting someone or making plans. Here’s a quick recap:

• Use 〜ましょう when you want to be polite:
  → いきましょう (Let’s go)
• Use 〜よう when speaking casually:
  → いこう (Let’s go)

Both forms will help you sound more natural in conversations—and make it easier to connect with others in Japanese!

If you’re learning Japanese, try using both styles in your daily practice depending on who you’re talking to. Let’s study together! 😊
いっしょにべんきょうしましょう！

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