11.5 How to Make and Agree to Plans: ましょう (mashou)
Building upon the previous module on ませんか (masen ka), this module introduces ましょう (mashou), which expands on ways to suggest and agree upon activities in Japanese conversations.
Introduction to ましょう (mashou)
Like ませんか (masen ka), ましょう has also several purposes:
1. To suggest activities
- It’s used to suggest activities or propose plans, implying ‘Let’s …’.
2. To agree with suggestions
- It expresses agreement with a suggestion or proposal, implying ‘I agree, let’s do that’.
NOTE: While ませんか can also be used to make a suggestion or invitation, ましょう is often used following an initial suggestion. It typically serves as a conclusive, affirmative proposal or agreement to engage in an activity together.
Usage in sentences
The basic sentence is formed by adding ましょう to the stem form of verbs.
Example:
1. Suggesting activities
今度（こんど）、日本（にほん）でおいしいお寿司（すし）を食（た）べましょう。
Kondo Nihon de oishii sushi o tabe mashou.
Let’s eat good sushi in Japan next time.
2. Agreeing with suggestions
いいですね。そうしましょう！
Ii desu ne. Sou shi mashou!
That sounds good. Let’s do that!
Now that you’ve learned both ませんか and ましょう, let’s see how these expressions work in a natural conversation. Exploring new grammar points, phrases and words in context is an excellent way to enhance your understanding. Here’s a conversation where you (A) suggest a plan and Tanaka-san (B) agrees:
Dialogue example:
A: 田中（たなか）さん、今日（きょう）一緒にお昼（ひる）ご飯（はん）を食（た）べませんか。
Tanaka-san, kyou isshoni ohiru-gohan o tabe masen ka.
Tanaka-san, would you like to have lunch together today?
B: いいですね。
Ii desu ne.
That sounds great.
A: じゃあ、十二時に駅前（えきまえ）で会（あ）いましょう。
Jaa, juu-ni-ji ni ekimae de ai mashou.
All right, let’s meet in front of the station at 12.
NOTE: 駅前 is a fixed phrase meaning ‘in front of the station’. While 駅の前 is grammatically correct and still used, 駅前 is more commonly used in everyday language.
B: はい、そうしましょう。
Hai, sou shi mashou.
Yes, let’s do that.
ましょう vs ましょうか
To delve deeper, let’s introduce an important distinction that bridges to the next module: the ending form ましょう can be accompanied by the particle か, forming ましょうか, which is used in a similar way but with a slight difference in nuance.
While ましょう and ましょうか are often interchangeable, ましょうか adds a slightly more inviting or collaborative tone to the suggestion. Since it ends with the question particle か, it functions more as a polite inquiry, asking for the other person’s input, rather than a straightforward statement. It subtly implies that you’re seeking the other person’s opinion or agreement, making it more of a question than a direct proposal.
For example:
A: じゃあ、明日（あした）四時（よじ）に会いましょうか。
Jaa, ashita yo-ji ni ai mashou ka.
Then, shall we meet at 4 tomorrow?
B: はい、そうしましょうか。
Hai, sou shi mashou ka.
Yes, let’s do that, shall we?
Exercise 1
