Let's, suggestions & plans

Stage 4Sentence endings & intentChunk 1 of 27 · items 370–375 of 484

The volitional -ou family for inviting and offering, the softer -nai? invitation and -tara? advice, then tsumori and -ou to omou for your own plans.

Mix-ups

-ou proposes outright, -ou ka asks for agreement or offers help, and -nai? leaves room to say no; -tara? advises the listener rather than inviting them. tsumori is a settled plan, while -ou to omou is a decision you're still making.

-ou / -you

polite -mashoudrama rank #2354*

let's (do)

〜おう／〜ようPlay 〜ましょうPlay

The volitional form proposes doing something together (ikou, tabeyou, shiyou). Godan verbs change the final u to ou (iku → ikou, kaeru → kaerou); ichidan verbs swap ru for you (taberu → tabeyou).

casualPlay

issho ni ikou

Let's go together.

一緒に行こう

politePlay

issho ni ikimashou

Let's go together.

一緒に行きましょう

The irregulars are suru → shiyou and kuru → koyou.

Learn alongside: -ou ka / -you ka, -nai?, -tara?

-ou ka / -you ka

polite -mashou kadrama rank #2035*

shall we / shall I?

〜おうか／〜ようかPlay 〜ましょうかPlay

Asks whether to do something together, or offers to do it for the listener (mado akeyou ka? = shall I open the window?).

casualPlay

issho ni ikou ka?

Want me to come with you?

一緒に行こうか？

politePlay

issho ni ikimashou ka?

Shall I come with you?

一緒に行きましょうか？

With a falling tone it can be self-directed: jaa, kaerou ka (well, guess I'll head home).

Learn alongside: -ou / -you, -nai?, -tara?Learn first: -ou / -you

-nai?

polite -masen kadrama rank —none

want to...? (invitation)

〜ない？Play 〜ませんかPlay

Invites the listener with a rising negative question (issho ni ikanai?), which leaves room to decline. It is softer than -ou.

casualPlay

issho ni ikanai?

Want to come along?

一緒に行かない？

politePlay

issho ni ikimasen ka?

Would you like to come along?

一緒に行きませんか？

The rising tone is what makes it an invitation; flat ikanai just means 'I'm not going.'

Learn alongside: -ou / -you, -ou ka / -you ka, -tara?Learn first: -nai

-tara?

polite -tara dou desu kadrama rank #2818*

why don't you...?

〜たら？Play 〜たらどうですかPlay

Suggests, with a rising tone, something the listener could do for their own good (yasundara?, kiite mitara?). The fuller form is -tara dou?. -ba? (sureba?) is curter and can sound dismissive (katte ni sureba? = suit yourself).

casualPlay

chotto yasundara?

Why don't you take a break?

ちょっと休んだら？

politePlay

chotto yasundara dou desu ka

Why don't you take a little break?

ちょっと休んだらどうですか

With superiors -tara dou desu ka can sound pushy; -ta hou ga ii kamo is gentler.

Learn alongside: -ou / -you, -ou ka / -you ka, -nai?Learn first: -tara

tsumori

polite tsumori desudrama rank #208

intend to / plan to

つもりPlay つもりですPlay

States a plan you've already decided on. It attaches to the plain form (iku tsumori, ikanai tsumori).

casualPlay

kyou wa hayaku neru tsumori

I'm planning to go to bed early tonight.

今日は早く寝るつもり

politePlay

kyou wa hayaku neru tsumori desu

I plan to go to bed early tonight.

今日は早く寝るつもりです

After a past verb it means 'I thought I had': itta tsumori = I thought I'd said it. Asking others about their tsumori can sound like a challenge (dou iu tsumori? = what do you think you're doing?), so ask about plans with ...suru no? / ...n desu ka. For loose plans, -ou to omotteru is softer.

Learn alongside: -ou / -you to omou

-ou / -you to omou

polite -ou / -you to omoimasudrama rank —none

I'm thinking of (doing)

〜おう／〜ようと思う 〜おう／〜ようとおもうPlay 〜おう／〜ようと思いますPlay

Shares a plan you're deciding on now or are still considering. It is softer than tsumori.

casualPlay

kyou wa hayaku neyou to omou

I think I'll go to bed early tonight.

今日は早く寝ようと思う

politePlay

kyou wa hayaku neyou to omoimasu

I think I'll go to bed early tonight.

今日は早く寝ようと思います

Polite speech keeps the plain volitional (neyou to omoimasu, never *nemashou to omoimasu); -ou to omotteru = I've been thinking of it.

Learn alongside: tsumoriLearn first: -ou / -you, to omou