Learn Japanese grammar: 意向形 【いこうけい】(ikou kei). Meaning: volitional form; let’s do ~.
This grammar turns verbs from statements into suggestions.
How to create volitional form:
A) る-verbs
Remove the final る (ru) syllable and replace it with よう (you).
食べる → 食べよう (taberu → tabeyou) let’s eat
To be more polite, add ましょう (mashou) instead.
食べる → 食べましょう (taberu → tabemashou) let’s eat
B) う-verbs
Change the final vowel to (o) and add a singular (u) to the end.
読む → 読もう (yomu → yomou) let’s read
買う → 買おう (kau → kaou) let’s buy
To be more polite, change the final vowel to (i) and add ましょう (mashou) to the end.
読む → 読みましょう (yomu → yomimashou) let’s read
買う → 買いましょう (kau → kaimashou) let’s buy
C) Irregular Verbs
する → しよう (suru → shiyou) let’s do..
する → しましょう (suru → shimashou) let’s do..
来る → 来よう (kuru → koyou) let’s come/go
来る → 来ましょう (kuru → kimashou) let’s come/go
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意向形 - Example Sentences 例文
Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.
Click the below red button to toggle off and and on all of the hints, and you can click on the buttons individually to show only the ones you want to see.
Example #1
今日から自転車で出勤しよう。
Example #2
もう11時だ。早く寝よう。
Example #3
重たいそうだね。手伝おうか。
Example #4
今日は食堂で昼食を食べよう。
Example #5
図書館で一緒に勉強しよう。
Example #6
明日は週末ですから、飲みに行こう。
Example #7
雨が降っているよ。駅まで送ってあげようか？
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