By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025
📘 Meaning & Usage
The expression ましょうか is a polite way to suggest doing something together or ask if someone wants to do something. It can be translated as “Shall we…?” or “Would you like to…?” in English. This phrase adds a level of politeness and is commonly used when making a suggestion or invitation to another person.
Structure: Verb (masu-form) + ましょうか
Example: 映画を見ましょうか？ (Eiga o mimashou ka?) – Shall we watch a movie?
🔍 Structure
- Verb (masu-form) + ましょうか
- 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 → 食べましょうか).
- It is used to ask if someone is interested in doing something or to suggest doing something together politely.
For example:
- 飲みましょうか (nomimashou ka) – Shall we drink?
- 行きましょうか (ikimashou ka) – Shall we go?
- 見ましょうか (mimashou ka) – Shall we 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? - 今、コーヒーを飲みましょうか？
Ima, koohii o nomimashou ka?
Shall we drink coffee now? - 公園に行きましょうか？
Kouen ni ikimashou ka?
Shall we go to the park? - 明日、一緒にランチを食べましょうか？
Ashita, issho ni ranchi o tabemashou ka?
Shall we have lunch together tomorrow?
📚 Grammar Notes
- ましょうか is a polite way of suggesting or inviting someone to do something together.
- It is used when you are asking if the other person is interested in doing something or when making a suggestion in a more polite form.
- If you want to invite someone to do something together, use ましょうか to soften the suggestion and make it sound like a question.
- It is different from ましょう, which is used for simply making a suggestion, while ましょうか involves asking for the other’s opinion or confirming their willingness.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank with the correct form of ましょうか:
- 一緒に映画を見＿＿か？
- 今、コーヒーを飲み＿＿か？
- 公園に行＿＿か？
✔ Answers:
- 一緒に映画を見ましょうか？
- 今、コーヒーを飲みましょうか？
- 公園に行きましょうか？
2. Translate into Japanese:
- Shall we eat lunch?
- Shall we go shopping together?
- Shall we take a walk in the park?
✔ Sample Answers:
- 昼ご飯を食べましょうか？
- 一緒に買い物に行きましょうか？
- 公園で散歩しましょうか？
🈶 Vocabulary & Kanji Breakdown
| Word | Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 映画 | 映画 | えいが | Movie, film |
| 飲む | 飲 | のむ | To drink |
| 行く | 行 | いく | To go |
| 食べる | 食 | たべる | To eat |
| 散歩 | 散歩 | さんぽ | Walk, stroll |
🔗 Related Grammar
- ましょう: “Let’s do…” (making a suggestion)
- ～ませんか: “Won’t you?” (inviting someone to do something)
🧠 Summary
- ましょうか is a polite way to suggest doing something together or to ask someone if they want to do something.
- Level: JLPT N5
- Form: Verb (masu-form) + ましょうか
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.
