Japanese Language Lesson 16 - Invitations

Please view previous lessons for additional vocabulary and grammar.

This lesson covers making and accepting invitations in Japanese. You can learn with Miyashita sensei three ways to invite someone to different events. Best of luck!

Notes

The basic form:
Question: change ます to ませんか.
Answer: change ます to ましょう.

Examples:
映画を見ます。見ませんか？／えいがをみます。みませんか？
I will see a movie. Do you want to see?

映画を見ませんか？／えいがをみませんか？
Do you want to see a movie?

はい、見ましょう。／はい、みましょう。
Yes, let's see it.

コンサートに行きます。コンサートに行きませんか？／コンサートにいきます。コンサートにいきませんか？
I will go to a concert. Do you want to go to the concert?

はい、行きましょう。／はい、いきましょう。
Yes, let's go.

晩ご飯を食べます。晩ご飯を食べませんか？／ばんごはんをたべます。ばんごはんをたべませんか？
I will eat dinner. Do you want to eat dinner?

はい、食べましょう。／はい、たべましょう。
Yes, let's eat.

ドライブをします。ドライブをしませんか？
I will go for a drive. Do you want to go for a drive?

はい、しましょう。
Yes, let's go.

Sensei's secret pyramid of listener's choice:
Tier 1— ましょう／Let's...
Tier 2— ましょうか？／Shall we...
Tier 3— ませんか？／Would you...

The listener's freedom to decide whether to accept or to decline the invitation increases from the top tier to the bottom tier.

Example:
スキーに行きませんか？／スキーにいきませんか？
Do you want to go skiing?

はい、行きましょう。／はい、いきましょう。
Yes, let's go.

どこに行きましょうか？／どこにいきましょうか？
Where shall we go?

コロラドに行きませんか？／コロラドにいきませんか？
Do you want to go to Colorado?

[コロラドはどうですか？]
[How about Colorado?]

いいですね！
[That] sounds good!

いつ行きましょうか？／いついきましょうか？
When shall we go?

来週、行きませんか？／らいしゅう、いきませんか？
[Do you] want to go next week?

[来週はどうですか？／らいしゅうはどうですか？]
[How about next week?]

そうしましょう。
Let's do it. / Let's do so.

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[rickysword]

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[Vokalplus]

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[nicolamasiero]

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[isamargarrido]

I finally understand what she says at the end thanks to this lesson hahha. Japan Society de aimashou! Thankyou sensei!

[cynthiawingard]

Thank you for all these lessons. I'm trying to learn as much as I can. I'm going to Japan in two weeks and I'm very excited to learn more about your culture and improve my language skills.

[sogghartha]

Already learned this before, but repetition is always welcome. ありがとう！

[animatestate]

That was awesome teaching. I had fun learning it too.

[hanakoureshii]

ありがとうございました！私はJapan Societyが好きです。
You've helped me learn a lot of Japanese.

[kronosgamerdeadchannel]

i love your every video your the best teacher for japanese

[rajendrarajbajracharya]

This is the one of the most gentle way of teaching n leaning japnese? Can we learn more like pre intermediate or intermediate lessons?

[collapsev]

OMG. Thank you japanSociety for these lessons. They are sooo well taught. Please upload more.

[zukhrakayumova]

I am from Uzbekistan thank you for teaching japanese :)

[naomigracearyeh]

ah! the pyramid cleared me out on how to use -mashou, -mashouka and
-masenka! masenka gives the listener the option to refuse or agree with
your request whereas mashou is a more stronger way of putting things..
more like a conclusion to GO. the japanese are a very polite people and
so sensei uses the politest way of inviting people with a light
atmosphere and no air of obligation whatsoever. it will be very
uncomfortable for nihonjins to refuse people. B-) cool. had a hard time
understanding why my teacher also always used -masenka.

[PhantomOfTheOpera]

Sensei I beg of you please keep teaching wonderful Sensei :3

[ryukiryu]

arigatou sensei..
im indonesian very very love japan..
ill be wait for next lesson

[Junkfuck]

Ikimasen ka? Is the formal way of the ikitai suggestion. ikitai is more colloquial. Ikimasen ka can be used whenever and wherever if you're unsure.

[GetLostDreamer]

I love you! Please come back and teach us more! Onegaishimasu!!

[blackcake]

long time no i'm glad you're back :D

[ravjan]

Huhuhu sensei please come back we need you so much. :(((
We miss you so much and around 9000 students and viewers are waiting for you :((
Watashitachi wa anata o aishi, watashitachi wa anata ni sensei o ketsujō.

[ayeyeikmon]

thank your teaching is very perfect to me!