JLPT N5 Grammar: ましょう – “Let’s do…” (Suggestion)

By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025

📘 Meaning & Usage

The expression ましょう is used to make a polite suggestion, which can be translated as “Let’s do…” or “Shall we?” in English. It is used when you want to invite someone to do something together or suggest an activity.

Structure: Verb (masu-form) + ましょう

Example: 食べましょう (tabemashou) – Let’s eat.

🔍 Structure

• Verb (masu-form) + ましょう
• To form the masu-form of a verb, remove the “ます” and change the ending sound according to the verb’s class (e.g., for 食べる → 食べます → 食べましょう).
• It is polite and used in situations where you want to suggest doing something together with others.

For example:

• 飲みましょう (nomimashou) – Let’s drink.
• 行きましょう (ikimashou) – Let’s go.
• 見ましょう (mimashou) – Let’s watch.

📝 Example Sentences

• 一緒に映画を見ましょうか？
  Issho ni eiga o mimashou ka?
  Shall we watch a movie together?
• ランチを食べましょう。
  Ranchi o tabemashou.
  Let’s have lunch.
• 公園で散歩をしましょう。
  Kouen de sanpo o shimashou.
  Let’s take a walk in the park.
• 明日、カラオケに行きましょう。
  Ashita, karaoke ni ikimashou.
  Let’s go to karaoke tomorrow.

📚 Grammar Notes

• ましょう is a very common way to suggest doing something in a polite manner in Japanese.
• It can also be used to make a suggestion in a group or with people you are close to.
• If you are inviting someone or suggesting an activity, you can use ましょうか instead of ましょう to make the invitation sound more like a question (e.g., 映画を見ましょうか？ – Shall we watch a movie?).
• ましょう is usually used when you want to suggest something together, and it is not used when you are giving an order or making a request.

📝 Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank with the correct form of ましょう:

1. 今、映画を見ません＿＿？
2. 明日、散歩に行きません＿＿？
3. 昼ご飯を食べません＿＿？

✔ Answers:

• 今、映画を見ましょうか？
• 明日、散歩に行きましょうか？
• 昼ご飯を食べましょうか？

2. Translate into Japanese:

1. Shall we eat lunch?
2. Let’s go to the park.
3. Shall we watch a movie tomorrow?

✔ Sample Answers:

• 昼ご飯を食べましょうか？
• 公園に行きましょう。
• 明日、映画を見ましょうか？

🈶 Vocabulary & Kanji Breakdown

🔗 Related Grammar

• ～ましょうか: “Shall we?” (making a suggestion or offering to do something together)
• ～ませんか: “Won’t you?” (inviting someone to do something)

🧠 Summary

• ましょう is used to make a polite suggestion or invitation to do something together.
• Level: JLPT N5
• Form: Verb (masu-form) + ましょう

thuandao

I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.