Let's! Japanese Volitional Form (~you)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The volitional form is used to express 'let's do' or 'I think I will do' by changing the verb ending.
- Group 1 (u-verbs): Change the final 'u' to 'ou' (e.g., iku -> ikou).
- Group 2 (ru-verbs): Replace 'ru' with 'you' (e.g., taberu -> tabeyou).
- Group 3 (Irregular): 'Suru' becomes 'shiyou' and 'kuru' becomes 'koyou'.
Overview
Ever found yourself standing in front of a 居酒屋 with your Japanese friends, staring at a menu of things you can't identify, and someone suddenly shouts 行こう!? If you followed them inside, you’ve already experienced the power of the Volitional Form. This isn't just a grammar point; it's the social glue of the Japanese language.
It’s how you say "Let's do this," "Shall we?" or even "I've decided I'm doing this." Think of it as the verbal equivalent of a high-five or a shared nod of agreement. In English, we often rely on "Let's" or "I will," but the Japanese volitional form packs a punch that handles both suggestion and internal resolve. Whether you're planning a weekend trip on Discord or just trying to decide which Netflix show to binge-watch next, this form is your go-to tool.
It bridges the gap between a thought in your head and an action in the real world. Without it, you’re just a spectator; with it, you’re the one leading the group to the best ラーメン shop in town. Just don't use it to suggest eating your roommate's leftovers unless you're prepared for a very awkward roommate meeting later.
How This Grammar Works
~ましょう (mashou), this is its cool, younger sibling that hangs out at skateparks and uses too many emojis. Second, it expresses a firm intention or a "thinking aloud" moment. You’ll often see it paired with と思う to say "I think I'll..." or "I'm planning to..." This makes it much softer and more natural than just stating a flat fact.Formation Pattern
う (u).
る (ru) and add よう (you).
Conjugation Table
| Verb Group | Dictionary Form | Volitional Form | English Meaning | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | ||
| Group 1 | {書く | かく} | {書こう | かこう} | Let's write / I'll write |
| Group 1 | {遊ぶ | あそぶ} | {遊ぼう | あそぼう} | Let's play / I'll play |
| Group 2 | {教える | おしえる} | {教えよう | おしえよう} | Let's teach / I'll teach |
| Group 2 | {忘れる | わすれる} | {忘れよう | わすれよう} | Let's forget / I'll forget |
| Group 3 | {する | する} | {しよう | しよう} | Let's do / I'll do |
| Group 3 | {来る | くる} | {来よう | こよう} | Let's come / I'll come |
Politeness Levels
Social context is everything in Japan. Using the casual 食べよう with your CEO is a great way to get a very long, very polite lecture on Japanese etiquette.
- **Casual
** Use ~よう (you) or ~おう (ou). Perfect for friends, siblings, and that guy you’ve played Apex Legends with for three years but never met in person.
- **Polite
** Use ~ましょう (mashou). Use this with teachers, bosses, strangers, or when you’re trying to impress your partner's parents at dinner.
- **Formal/Written
** You might see ~ん」 or other variations in literature, but for B1 level, stick to these two.
Think of it like this
~よう is "Let's go!" while ~ましょう is "Shall we depart?"
When To Use It
- Making a Suggestion: You’re with a friend and you’re hungry. "ピザを食べよう!" (Let's eat pizza!). It’s an invitation to join in the action.
- Expressing Intention: You’re talking to yourself or stating a firm plan. "明日は早起きしよう." (I'll wake up early tomorrow). Note: This is usually followed by a sigh of regret the next morning when the alarm goes off.
- Pairing with と思う: This is how you say "I'm thinking of doing..." It sounds much more natural and less aggressive than saying "I will do it." For example, "留学しようと思っている" (I'm thinking of studying abroad). This is the gold standard for talking about your future plans in a job interview or on a first date.
- Social Media: You’ll see this all over Instagram captions. "今日も頑張ろう!" (Let's do our best again today!). It’s the ultimate "positive vibes only" grammar point.
Common Mistakes
~ましょう unless they’ve explicitly told you to drop the formalities. Also, don't confuse the volitional しよう (shiyou) with the word 使用 (shiyou - use/utilization). One means "Let's do it," and the other is what you see on a printer error message. Context is your friend here. Finally, remember that for Group 1 verbs, it's a long "o" sound. If you say いこ instead of いこう, you sound like you’ve run out of batteries mid-sentence.Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Volitional vs. ~たい:
~たいexpresses a desire ("I want to"), while the volitional expresses a decision or invitation ("Let's"). You might want to go to the moon (~たい), but you suggest going to the movies (~よう). - Volitional vs. ~てください:
~てくださいis a request or command ("Please do"). The volitional is more collaborative. "食べてください" is "Please eat (this)," while "食べよう" is "Let's eat (together)." - Volitional vs. Future Tense: Japanese doesn't have a true future tense, so we often use the dictionary form for "I will." However, the volitional adds that extra layer of "I have decided" or "Let's." If you say
飲む, it’s a statement: "I drink/will drink." If you say飲もう, it’s an active choice: "Let's drink!"
Quick FAQ
Can I use this form to ask a question?
Yes! Just add a question mark (or rising intonation). "行こう?" means "Shall we go?"
Is 来よう really the only way to say "let's come"?
Yes, and yes, it sounds weird at first. Just remember it's ko-you, not ku-you.
Can I use this with ください?
No. しようください is grammatically illegal in 47 prefectures. Use してください for requests.
Memory Trick
Think of the Group 1 ending change (u to o) as the "Oh!" moment. When you decide to do something, you say "Oh! Let's do it!" The u sound moves to the o sound, and you add another u to stretch it out. It's the sound of excitement! O-U = Oh, You! (Let's go, you and me!).
Real Conversations
Friend A
喉が渇いたね。 (I'm thirsty, huh.)Friend B
あそこのカフェに入ろう! (Let's go into that cafe over there!)User
今夜、何を食べようか。 (What shall we eat tonight?)Partner
ウーバーイーツで注文しようよ。 (Let's just order on Uber Eats.)Progressive Practice
Identify if a verb is Group 1, 2, or 3.
Practice changing dictionary forms to volitional in your head while walking.
Try making a "thinking of" sentence using ~ようと思う about your weekend plans.
Use it with a Japanese friend or language partner next time you suggest a meeting place!
Volitional Conjugation Table
| Verb Type | Dictionary Form | Volitional Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Group 1
|
Iku
|
Ikou
|
Let's go
|
|
Group 1
|
Nomu
|
Nomou
|
Let's drink
|
|
Group 2
|
Taberu
|
Tabeyou
|
Let's eat
|
|
Group 2
|
Miru
|
Miyou
|
Let's watch
|
|
Irregular
|
Suru
|
Shiyou
|
Let's do
|
|
Irregular
|
Kuru
|
Koyou
|
Let's come
|
Meanings
The volitional form expresses a suggestion ('let's') or a personal intention ('I will/I think I'll').
Invitation
Suggesting an action to others.
“{明日|あした}、{公園|こうえん}へ{行|い}こう。”
“{一緒|いっしょ}に{勉強|べんきょう}しよう。”
Self-Intention
Expressing a personal resolution or plan.
“{今日|きょう}は{早|はや}く{寝|ね}よう。”
“{明日|あした}から{頑張|がんば}ろう。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb-Volitional
|
Ikou
|
|
Negative
|
Verb-Nai + de iyou
|
Ikanai de iyou
|
|
Question
|
Verb-Volitional + ka
|
Ikou ka?
|
|
Polite
|
Verb-Masu + shou
|
Ikimashou
|
|
Intention
|
Verb-Volitional + to omou
|
Ikou to omou
|
|
Suggestion
|
Issho ni + Verb-Volitional
|
Issho ni ikou
|
Formality Spectrum
{帰|かえ}りましょう。 (Leaving a place)
{帰|かえ}りましょう。 (Leaving a place)
{帰|かえ}ろう。 (Leaving a place)
{帰|かえ}ろ！ (Leaving a place)
Volitional Usage Map
Social
- Ikou Let's go
Personal
- Shiyou I will do
Examples by Level
{行|い}こう！
Let's go!
{食|た}べよう！
Let's eat!
{飲|の}もう！
Let's drink!
{見|み}よう！
Let's watch!
{今日|きょう}は{早|はや}く{寝|ね}よう。
I think I'll go to bed early today.
{明日|あした}、{映画|えいが}を{見|み}よう。
Let's watch a movie tomorrow.
{日本語|にほんご}を{勉強|べんきょう}しよう。
Let's study Japanese.
{公園|こうえん}へ{行|い}こう。
Let's go to the park.
{来週|らいしゅう}、{新|あたら}しい{本|ほん}を{読|よ}もうと{思|おも}う。
I think I'll read a new book next week.
{一緒|いっしょ}に{ランチ|らんち}に{行|い}きませんか？
Shall we go to lunch together?
{彼|かれ}に{電話|でんわ}しよう。
I'll call him.
{準備|じゅんび}を{始|はじ}めよう。
Let's start the preparations.
{会議|かいぎ}の{時間|じかん}を{変更|へんこう}しようと{提案|ていあん}した。
I proposed that we change the meeting time.
{何|なに}を{買|か}おうか{迷|まよ}っている。
I'm wondering what I should buy.
{誰|だれ}が{最初|さいしょ}に{話|はな}そうか。
Who shall speak first?
{失敗|しっぱい}しても{続|つづ}けよう。
Even if I fail, I will keep going.
{彼|かれ}の{決断|けつだん}を{尊重|そんちょう}しよう。
Let us respect his decision.
{今|いま}こそ{行動|こうどう}を{起|お}こそう。
Now is the time to take action.
{未来|みらい}を{変|か}えようという{意志|いし}が{大切|たいせつ}だ。
The will to change the future is important.
{二度|にど}と{繰|く}り{返|かえ}さないようにしよう。
Let's make sure not to repeat this.
{万物|ばんぶつ}の{理|ことわり}を{探求|たんきゅう}しよう。
Let us explore the principles of all things.
{自|みずか}ら{道|みち}を{切|き}り{開|ひら}こう。
I shall carve my own path.
{歴史|れきし}の{教訓|きょうくん}に{学|まな}ぼう。
Let us learn from the lessons of history.
{静寂|せいじゃく}を{楽|たの}しもう。
Let us enjoy the silence.
Easily Confused
Both express future actions.
Both can imply future.
Both mean 'Let's'.
Common Mistakes
Iku-you
Ikou
Tabe-ou
Tabeyou
Suru-ou
Shiyou
Kuru-ou
Koyou
Ikou-masu
Ikimashou
Tabeyou-masu
Tabemashou
Ikou-desu
Ikimashou
Ikou-tai
Ikitai
Ikou-kudasai
Itte kudasai
Ikou-to-suru
Ikou-to-omou
Ikou-noda
Ikou-to-omou
Ikou-koto
Ikou-koto-ni-suru
Ikou-deshou
Ikimashou
Ikou-ka-na
Ikou-ka-to-omou
Sentence Patterns
___ を ___ しよう。
___ へ ___ に行こう。
___ と思っています。
___ か、___ か迷っています。
Real World Usage
今夜、飲もう！
明日から頑張ろう。
御社で貢献したく存じます。
次へ行こう。
これを頼もう。
始めましょう。
Group 1 Trick
Don't mix forms
Use 'to omou'
Be polite
Smart Tips
Use 'issho ni' to make your invitation clearer.
Add 'to omou' to show it's your personal plan.
Always use 'mashou'.
Check if it ends in 'iru' or 'eru'.
Pronunciation
Vowel Length
The 'ou' ending is pronounced as a long 'o'.
Invitation
Ikou↑
Rising intonation makes it a friendly suggestion.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'ou' as 'Oh! Let's go!'
Visual Association
Imagine a group of friends pointing forward together, shouting 'Ikou!'
Rhyme
Group 1 ends in 'ou', Group 2 ends in 'you', that's what we do!
Story
Ken wants to go to the park. He says 'Ikou!' to his friend. Then he decides to study, saying 'Benkyou shiyou!' to himself.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down three things you plan to do today using the volitional form.
Cultural Notes
Invitations are often indirect. Using the volitional form is direct but polite if used with 'mashou'.
The volitional form evolved from the classical Japanese 'mu' suffix.
Conversation Starters
{今日|きょう}、{何|なに}をしようか？
{週末|しゅうまつ}、どこへ{行|い}こうか？
{今度|こんど}、{何|なに}を{勉強|べんきょう}しようか？
{明日|あした}、{何|なに}を{作|つく}ろうか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ (Iku)
___
Find and fix the mistake:
Ikou-masu
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
___
Answer starts with: a...
I / think / I will / go
Which is Group 2?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ (Iku)
___
Find and fix the mistake:
Ikou-masu
映画 / 見よう / 明日
___
I / think / I will / go
Which is Group 2?
Suru -> ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises{明日|あした}もまたここに___。(Let's come here again tomorrow.)
[ {新|あたら}しい | {買|か}おう | {車|くるま}を | と | {思|おも}っています ]
Shall we watch a movie?
Select the Group 2 verb:
Match these verbs:
Is this correct? {走る|はしる} (to run) → {走よう|はしよう}
{日本料理|にほんりょうり}を{作|つく}___と{思|おも}います。
Volitional of {話す|はなす}:
Let's do our best!
[ {旅行|りょこう} | {話|はな}そう | に | ついて ]
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, use 'mashou' for polite situations.
They mean the same, but 'ikimashou' is polite.
Use 'nai de iyou'.
It's an irregular verb.
Yes, it expresses intention.
Use 'to omou' to soften it.
Only the 'mashou' form.
No, it's a fixed form.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Subjunctive or 'Vamos a'
Spanish doesn't conjugate the main verb for 'Let's'.
Allons + infinitive
French uses a separate verb for the invitation.
Lass uns + infinitive
German uses a fixed phrase.
Ba
Chinese does not change the verb itself.
Hayya bina
Arabic uses a prepositional phrase.
Volitional
It is a morphological conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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