The Japanese Volitional Form: A Simple Rule to Say "Let's" (Complete Guide)
Let's be honest. When you want to invite a Japanese friend to hang out, do you always default to 〜ましょう (mashō)? While "Tabemashō!" (Let's eat!) is perfectly polite, using it with close friends can sound a bit stiff and formal—like you're talking to a coworker instead of a buddy.
If you want to sound more natural and approachable, you need the Volitional Form.
This is the plain, casual equivalent of -mashō. By mastering this form, you won't just learn how to say "Let's do..." casually; you'll also unlock the ability to express your own personal intentions and plans.
⚡ The Volitional Form Conjugation Rule
Here is the quickest way to remember how to form it:
💡 The Golden Rule
- Group 1 (u-verbs): Change the final u-sound to an o-sound + u.
- Group 2 (ru-verbs): Drop る (ru) and add よう (yō).
Example: 飲む (nomu) ➔ 飲もう (nomō)
How do I use this in real life? (4 Key Uses)
The Volitional form is incredibly versatile. Here are the most common ways you will use it in daily conversations:
1. Casual Suggestions ("Let's...")
一緒にご飯を食べよう！
(Issho ni gohan o tabeyō!)
"Let's eat together!"
The direct, casual equivalent of 食べましょう.
2. Stating Intention ("I think I will...")
明日、勉強しようと思う。
(Ashita, benkyō shiyō to omou.)
"I think I will study tomorrow."
Add 〜と思う (to omou) to express your personal plans.
3. Offering Help ("Shall I...?")
荷物、持とうか？
(Nimotsu, motō ka?)
"Shall I carry your bags?"
A friendly way to volunteer your help to someone.
4. Attempting an Action ("Try to...")
早く寝ようとした。
(Hayaku neyō to shita.)
"I tried to go to bed early."
Add 〜とする (to suru) to indicate an attempt to do something.
The Magic of adding "か (ka)"
When suggesting an idea to a friend, just saying 「休もう！」(Yasumō! - Let's rest!) is perfectly fine. However, sometimes it can sound a tiny bit forceful, like you are making the decision for both of you.
Soften it with "ka" (Shall we?)
If you want to sound more considerate and check if the other person is okay with your idea, just attach か (ka) to the end:
「疲れたね。少し休もうか。」
(Tsukareta ne. Sukoshi yasumō ka.)
This subtle addition shifts the nuance from "Let's rest!" to a much softer "I'm tired. Shall we rest a bit?". It’s a very natural pattern used constantly by native speakers.
The "Just to be Sure" Conjugation Guide
If you want to see all the patterns organized neatly, here is how the Volitional Form looks across the three verb groups.
Group 2 Verbs (ru-verbs): The Easy Ones
Drop the final る (ru) and add よう (yō).
食べる (taberu) → 食べよう (tabeyō)
見る (miru) → 見よう (miyō)
Group 3 Verbs (Irregular)
There are only two, and you just need to memorize them. Pay special attention to the reading of 来る!
する (suru) → しよう (shiyō)
来る (kuru) → 来よう (koyō)
Group 1 Verbs (u-verbs): The Vowel Shift
Change the final vowel sound from 'u' to 'o', and then add 'u' at the end.
| Dictionary Form | Volitional Form | Romaji Shift |
|---|---|---|
| 書く (kaku) | 書こう (kakō) | ku → kō (ko + u) |
| 話す (hanasu) | 話そう (hanasō) | su → sō (so + u) |
| 待つ (matsu) | 待とう (matō) | tsu → tō (to + u) |
| 死ぬ (shinu) | 死のう (shinō) | nu → nō (no + u) |
| 飲む (nomu) | 飲もう (nomō) | mu → mō (mo + u) |
| 帰る (kaeru) | 帰ろう (kaerō) | ru → rō (ro + u) |
| 泳ぐ (oyogu) | 泳ごう (oyogō) | gu → gō (go + u) |
| 遊ぶ (asobu) | 遊ぼう (asobō) | bu → bō (bo + u) |
| 買う (kau) | 買おう (kaō) | u → ō (o + u) |
Summary: You Just Leveled Up 🍄
Awesome! You've just learned how to smoothly invite your friends, volunteer your help, and express your personal plans like a true native. The Volitional Form is an essential building block that you'll use constantly in everyday Japanese.
Ready to practice stating your intentions?
Learn to say "I think I will..." →