Inviting someone out
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 47 of 71Plans and invitations
Lets you invite a friend to eat, drink or come along.
- gohan ikanai?want to grab a bite?
- nomi ni ikanai?want to go for a drink?
- ocha demo dou?how about a tea or something?; want to grab a coffee?
- issho ni kuru?want to come along?
- uchi kuru?want to come over?
Mix-ups The -nai? ending is an invitation, not "aren't you going?".
gohan ikanai?
polite gohan ikimasen ka
want to grab a bite?
Casual invitation to eat out with a friend or coworker; the ni is dropped.
Kondo gohan ikou ne can be a vague pleasantry rather than a real plan.
kondo no doyoubi, gohan ikanai?
Want to get something to eat this Saturday?
今度の土曜日、ご飯行かない？
yokattara, kondo gohan ikimasen ka?
If you're free, would you like to get a meal sometime?
よかったら、今度ご飯行きませんか？
Written ご飯行かない？ · ごはんいかない · ご飯行きませんかWho you say it and hear itHeard 4× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nomi ni ikanai?
polite nomi ni ikimasen ka
want to go for a drink?
Invites a friend or coworker out drinking; the negative question makes it easy to say no.
A nomikai is an organised drinking party with work or a club.
shigoto owattara, nomi ni ikanai?
Want to go for a drink after work?
仕事終わったら、飲みに行かない？
kondo, nomi ni ikimasen ka?
Would you like to go for a drink sometime?
今度、飲みに行きませんか？
Written 飲みに行かない？ · のみにいかない · 飲みに行きませんかWho you say it and hear itHeard 54× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ocha demo dou?
polite ocha demo ikaga desu ka
how about a tea or something?; want to grab a coffee?
Low-pressure invitation to sit and chat over a drink, at home or at a cafe.
Ocha suru means stopping at a cafe, not only drinking tea.
jikan aru nara, ocha demo dou?
If you've got time, how about a coffee?
時間あるなら、お茶でもどう？
yokattara, ocha demo ikaga desu ka?
If you like, would you care for some tea?
よかったら、お茶でもいかがですか？
Written お茶でもどう？ · おちゃでもどう · お茶でもいかがですかWho you say itHeard 22× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
issho ni kuru?
polite issho ni kimasu ka?
want to come along?
Invites someone to join something you're already going to do; 'iku iku!' is the eager yes.
Use kuru when you're going and they join you; 'issho ni ikanai?' (shall we go together?) when it's a joint plan.
ima kara konbini iku kedo, issho ni kuru?
I'm heading to the convenience store. Want to come along?
今からコンビニ行くけど、一緒に来る？
kore kara shokuji ni ikimasu kedo, issho ni kimasu ka?
We're going to eat now. Would you like to come along?
これから食事に行きますけど、一緒に来ますか？
Written 一緒に来る？ · いっしょにくる？ · 一緒に来ますか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 248× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
uchi kuru?
polite uchi ni kimasen ka?
want to come over?
Invites a friend to your place; uchi here means 'my home', and dropping ni is normal in speech.
Uchi can also mean 'our family' or 'our company', depending on context.
atarashii geemu katta n da. uchi kuru?
I bought a new game. Want to come over?
新しいゲーム買ったんだ。うち来る？
yokattara, kondo uchi ni kimasen ka?
If you'd like, why not come over sometime?
よかったら、今度うちに来ませんか？
Written うち来る？ · うちくる？ · うちに来ませんか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 1× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles