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よう

Suggesting “let's”: 〜ましょう and the casual 〜よう

Polite and casual ways to suggest doing something together.
要点The idea
To suggest doing something together, use polite 〜ましょう or the casual volitional form: 〜よう / 〜おう.
DictionaryPolite: let'sCasual: let's
食(た)たべるtaberu食(た)たべましょうtabemashou食(た)たべようtabeyou
行(い)いくiku行(い)いきましょうikimashou行(い)いこうikou
飲(の)のむnomu飲(の)のみましょうnomimashou飲(の)のもうnomou
するsuruしましょうshimashouしようshiyou
来(く)くるkuru来(き)きましょうkimashou来(こ)こようkoyou
Casual form: る-verbs drop る and add よう; う-verbs change the u-sound to its o-sound and add う.
一緒(いっしょ)いっしょ に 帰(かえ)かえろう。issho ni kaerou.Let's go home together.
そろそろ 行(い)いきましょう か。sorosoro ikimashou ka.Shall we get going?ましょうか = shall we…?, a softer suggestion.
手伝(てつだ)てつだいましょう か？tetsudaimashou ka?Shall I help you?ましょうか also offers help.
もう 寝(ね)ねよう。mou neyou.I think I'll go to bed now.Said to yourself, the volitional is a decision: “I'll…”.
A行(い)いきましょう。ikimashou.Let's go.
B行(い)いこう。ikou.Let's go.
Same suggestion: ましょう with people you're polite to, the volitional with friends.
  1. A
    おなか すいた ね。 何(なに)なにか 食(た)たべよう か。onaka suita ne. nanika tabeyou ka.I'm hungry. Shall we eat something?
  2. B
    うん、 ラーメン は どう？un, raamen wa dou?Sure. How about ramen?
  3. A
    いい ね。 行(い)いこう！ii ne. ikou!Good idea. Let's go!
食(た)たべようか softens the suggestion (shall we…?); 行(い)いこう！ settles it.

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