JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜ましょう (mashō) — Polite Volitional (“Let's Do”)

JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜ましょう (mashō)

Q: What's the difference between ましょう and ましょうか?

ましょう means 'let's do' (group suggestion). ましょうか means 'shall I do?' (offer to do something for someone).

Q: Can I use ましょう when talking about myself?

Not normally. ましょう is for group actions or offers. For 'I will do', use the plain volitional (しよう) in casual speech, or ます to state a fact.

The polite volitional — “let's do” / “shall we do”

JLPTジェイエルピーティー N5エヌゴ文法ぶんぽう〜ましょう解説かいせつ (勧誘かんゆう・意向いこう)

⏱️ Study time: 4–6 minutes

〜ましょう (mashō) is the polite way to say “let's do” something. It attaches directly to the verb stem and is used to make suggestions, invitations, and to offer to do something for someone. It's one of the friendliest and most useful forms in Japanese.

🚀 JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz

Q: How do you say “Let's eat” politely?

Answer: A (食べましょう). ましょう attaches to the verb stem (食べ), not the dictionary form (食べる). C is also correct but is a more formal invitation ("Won't you eat?").

Quick Summary

Grammar Point
〜ましょう

Meaning
Let's do ~ (polite suggestion)

Pattern
Verb stem + ましょう

Example
一緒いっしょに帰かえりましょう。いっしょにかえりましょう。Issho ni kaerimashō.
Let's go home together.

📝 Core Pattern

Affirmative suggestion: Verb stem + ましょう

Negative suggestion: 〜ない + でおきましょう (casual) / 〜ません + ことにしましょう (formal) — less common at N5

Polite offering: Verb stem + ましょうか (Shall I ~?)

⚠️ ましょう is the polite volitional form of ます. It replaces the final 〜ます with 〜ましょう.

🧠 Need to review verb stems? See Verb Groups →

💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.

What is 〜ましょう?

〜ましょう is the polite volitional form. It expresses the speaker's will or invitation to do something together. It is formed by taking the polite verb stem (the same stem used for ます) and adding ましょう. It can also be used to offer to do something for someone.

Always polite — the casual equivalent is the plain volitional (〜おう / 〜よう).
Used for group suggestions, invitations, and friendly offers.
Answers are often はい、そうしましょう (Yes, let's do that) or いいですね (Sounds good).

一緒いっしょに日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしましょう。いっしょににほんごをべんきょうしましょう。Issho ni Nihongo o benkyō shimashō.
Let's study Japanese together.

⚡ How to Form 〜ましょう

Verb	Stem	Polite (ます)	Volitional (ましょう)
書かく (kaku)	書かき	書かきます	書かきましょう
食たべる (taberu)	食たべ	食たべます	食たべましょう
する (suru)	し	します	しましょう
来くる (kuru)	来き (ki)	来きます	来きましょう

⚠️ Fake ichidan reminder: Verbs like 帰かえる and 入はいる are Group 1. Their stems are 帰かえり and 入はいり. So: 帰かえりましょう, 入はいりましょう — not かえましょう, はいましょう.

Examples & Mini Dialogue

明日あしたのパーティーに行いきましょう。あしたのぱーてぃーにいきましょう。Ashita no pātī ni ikimashō.
Let's go to tomorrow's party.

✅ Friendly invitation.

休やすみの日ひに公園こうえんで遊あそびましょう。やすみのひにこうえんであそびましょう。Yasumi no hi ni kōen de asobimashō.
Let's play in the park on the day off.

🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: 明日あしたは暇ひまですか。あしたはひまですか。Ashita wa hima desu ka.
B: はい、映画えいがを見みに行いきましょう。はい、えいがをみにいきましょう。Hai, eiga o mi ni ikimashō.

⚡ ましょう vs ませんか — Both Mean "Let's / Shall We"

Pattern	Nuance	Example
〜ましょう	More direct suggestion; the speaker assumes agreement. Friendly, inclusive.	行いきましょう。 Let's go!
〜ませんか	More polite, softer invitation; gives the listener room to refuse. Formal.	行いきませんか。 Won't you go? / Shall we go?

⚡ Offering to Do Something — ましょうか

When you add the question particle か to ましょう, it becomes an offer: “Shall I ~?”. This is a very kind and polite way to help someone.

Situation	Offer	Meaning
Someone looks lost	手伝てつだいましょうか。	Shall I help you?
Someone is carrying bags	持もちましょうか。	Shall I carry that?
Opening a window	窓まどを開あけましょうか。	Shall I open the window?

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

✕ 食たべるましょう (using dictionary form).

✓ 食たべましょう (use the verb stem, drop る).

✕ 帰かえましょう (treating 帰る as Group 2).

✓ 帰かえりましょう (帰る is Group 1; stem is 帰り).

✕ Using ましょう for oneself alone (like "I will do").

✓ ましょう implies a group or offering. For a personal decision, use ます or plain volitional in casual speech.

JLPT N5 Practice Questions

Score: 0 / 3

1. “Let's go home.” Choose the correct polite form.

2. “Shall I open the window?” — choose the correct offering.

3. ましょう is formed from the __________ of the verb.

🎯 JLPT N5 tip: The ましょう form is often tested in listening and grammar sections. Listen for the difference between ましょう (let's do) and ませんか (won't you do). ましょう assumes agreement; ませんか is more tentative and polite.

Test yourself with a free mock exam →

About the Instructor

Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.

⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson

Japanese	Reading	Type	English Meaning
一緒いっしょに	いっしょに	Adverb	together
食たべる	たべる	Ichidan verb	to eat
行いく	いく	Godan verb	to go
帰かえる	かえる	Godan verb (fake ichidan)	to return, go home
見みる	みる	Ichidan verb	to see, watch
勉強べんきょう	べんきょう	Noun/する verb	study
公園こうえん	こうえん	Noun	park
遊あそぶ	あそぶ	Godan verb	to play
窓まど	まど	Noun	window
開あける	あける	Ichidan verb	to open

Related Grammar

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between ましょう and ましょうか?

ましょう means "let's do" (group suggestion). ましょうか means "shall I do?" (offer to do something for someone).

Can I use ましょう when talking about myself?

Not normally. ましょう is for group actions or offers. For "I will do", use the plain volitional (しよう) in casual speech, or ます to state a fact.

Is ましょう only for verbs?

Yes. ましょう attaches only to verb stems. For adjectives and nouns, use でしょう to express probability, not volition.

Continue Learning

Next: ませんか — the polite invitation form.

Learn ませんか →

→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub

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