Now that you've learned the four masu-form conjugations, it's time to put them to practical use: inviting someone to do something together and making suggestions. The three key patterns are 〜ませんか, 〜ましょうか, and 〜ましょう.
ませんか: A Polite Invitation
In English you might say "Want to see a movie together?" In Japanese, invitations use the negative question form — 〜ませんか:
一緒に映画を見ませんか。 → Would you like to watch a movie together?
Literally, this means "Won't you watch a movie?" — but the actual nuance is an invitation. By framing it as a negative question, you leave room for the other person to decline, making it more polite than a direct "Let's go!"
More examples:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 一緒にコーヒーを飲みませんか。 | Would you like to have coffee together? |
| 土曜日に買い物に行きませんか。 | Would you like to go shopping on Saturday? |
| 一緒に昼ごはんを食べませんか。 | Would you like to have lunch together? |
| 日曜日にテニスをしませんか。 | Would you like to play tennis on Sunday? |
How to Respond
Accepting:
いいですね。 → Sounds good! ぜひ。 → Absolutely! / I'd love to.
Declining (always soften it):
すみません、ちょっと… → Sorry, it's a bit... (difficult) 土曜日はちょっと… → Saturday is a bit... (not going to work)
Japanese speakers rarely say "no" directly. They trail off mid-sentence, and the other person understands.
ましょうか: Discussing / Offering Help
〜ましょうか is used to discuss plans: "Shall we do X?"
土曜日に行きましょうか。 → Shall we go on Saturday?
何時に会いましょうか。 → What time shall we meet?
どこで食べましょうか。 → Where shall we eat?
How is this different from ませんか?
| Pattern | Nuance | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ませんか | Inviting someone | Not yet sure if they want to |
| 〜ましょうか | Discussing details | Both parties are already on board |
For example, you first invite a friend to a movie (ませんか), they agree, then you discuss the timing (ましょうか):
A: 一緒に映画を見ませんか。 → Want to see a movie together? B: いいですね。 → Sounds good! A: 何曜日に行きましょうか。 → What day shall we go? B: 土曜日はどうですか。 → How about Saturday?
ましょうか for Offering Help
ましょうか can also be used to offer assistance:
荷物を持ちましょうか。 → Shall I carry your bags? 窓を開けましょうか。 → Shall I open the window?
This usage means "Shall I do this for you?" — a thoughtful way to offer help.
ましょう: A Direct Suggestion
〜ましょう is the most decisive — "Let's do it":
食べましょう。 → Let's eat. 行きましょう。 → Let's go. 始めましょう。 → Let's begin.
ましょう has no question mark — the tone is assertive. It's typically used after everyone has agreed, to seal the deal.
Comparing All Three
| Pattern | Function | Tone | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜ませんか | Invitation | Polite / tentative | 見ませんか (Won't you watch?) |
| 〜ましょうか | Discussion / offer | Consulting | 行きましょうか (Shall we go?) |
| 〜ましょう | Suggestion | Decisive | 食べましょう (Let's eat.) |
Politeness level: ませんか > ましょうか > ましょう
Full Conversation Example
A: 今日、一緒に晩ごはんを食べませんか。 → Want to have dinner together today?
B: いいですね。どこで食べましょうか。 → Sounds good. Where shall we eat?
A: 駅の近くにいいレストランがありますよ。 → There's a nice restaurant near the station.
B: じゃ、そこに行きましょう。 → Then let's go there.
See how the three patterns chain naturally: invitation (ませんか) → discussion (ましょうか) → decision (ましょう).
Summary
- 〜ませんか: Invite someone — "Would you like to...?" Uses negative question for politeness
- 〜ましょうか: Discuss details — "Shall we...?" Also used to offer help
- 〜ましょう: Make a suggestion — "Let's..." A decisive call to action
- Natural flow: ませんか → ましょうか → ましょう
Practice Quiz
Q1. Invite a friend to go shopping together on Sunday.
Show Answer
日曜日に一緒に買い物に行きませんか。
Inviting someone → use ませんか. 日曜日に (on Sunday) + 一緒に (together) + 買い物に (shopping) + 行きませんか (won't you go?).
Q2. They agreed. Now ask what time to meet. How do you say it?
Show Answer
何時に会いましょうか。
Discussing details → use ましょうか. 何時に (at what time) + 会いましょうか (shall we meet?).
Q3. What does 「荷物を持ちましょうか。」 mean?
Show Answer
Shall I carry your bags?
ましょうか here is used to offer help. 荷物 (luggage/bags) + を + 持ちましょうか (shall I carry?).