〜ませんか／〜ましょう~masen ka / ~mashou
Masen ka (〜ませんか) means “invite, suggest, or agree”.
Would you like to eat with me?
Use 「〜ませんか」 to invite someone and 「〜ましょう」 to suggest an action or accept an invitation.
In the course
How it works
The friend has not yet agreed to eat together. Use 「ませんか」 to invite them and ask if they would like to join.
Although it contains 「ません」, this is an invitation to eat, not a statement that someone will not eat.
The friend agrees to eat together. In the reply, 「食べましょう」 shows acceptance of the invitation.
You can also use 「ましょう」 to make a suggestion, such as suggesting a meeting point when planning to meet.
To invite someone, replace the verb ending 「ます」 with 「ませんか」: 食べます→食べませんか.
To suggest something or agree, replace 「ます」 with 「ましょう」: 食べます→食べましょう.
In both sentences, 「一緒に」 emphasizes doing something together. You do not need to say it every time you invite someone.
Example sentences
- 一緒isshoにniご飯gohanをo食べませんtabemasenか。ka
Would you like to eat with me?
- 一緒isshoにniご飯gohan
In a conversation
- A週末にライブに行きませんか。
A: Would you like to go to a live concert this weekend?
- Bいいですね。行きましょう。何時からどこですか。
Check yourself
Level 0 · Conjugate
Change to 〜ませんか to invite someone. ませんか（誘い）
一緒に昼ご飯を（食べます）。
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Won't you go to a live concert this weekend?
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
いいですね。 。何時からですか。
Sounds good. Let's go. What time does it start?
More grammar in this theme
- 〜ませんか／〜ましょうinvite, suggest, or agree
