Japanese grammar
What does 意向形 (volitional form) mean? Japanese grammar N4
意向形 (volitional form) means let's ~ / I'll ~ (invitation or self-resolve).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V (volitional) V (volitional) + か (gentle invitation) |
| Romaji | ikō-kei |
| Meaning | let's ~ / I'll ~ (invitation or self-resolve) |
Forming it
| Group 1 (godan) | Change the final う-row sound to the お-row, then add う: いく → いこう、のむ → のもう、はなす → はなそう、まつ → まとう |
|---|---|
| Group 2 (ichidan) | Drop る and add よう: たべる → たべよう、みる → みよう |
| Group 3 (irregular) | する → しよう、くる → こよう |
| Relationship with ましょう | The volitional form is the CASUAL version of ～ましょう: 行きましょう ↔ 行こう |
How to use it
Making a casual invitation or expressing your own intention; the base of the ～ようと思う pattern.
- The volitional form is precisely the casual version of ～ましょう learned in N5. Used with friends, family, and people below you. With someone above you or a stranger, you must still say ～ましょう.
- Two main uses: (1) inviting someone else to do something together — 「一緒に帰ろう」; (2) telling yourself something — 「今日は早く寝よう」 (I'll go to sleep early today).
- Adding か at the end makes the invitation softer, like asking for an opinion: 「そろそろ行こうか」 (shall we go now?). Without か, it sounds more decisive.
- Important point: the volitional form alone is NOT used to seriously state your plans to someone else — for that you must combine it into ～ようと思う (see the next pattern).
Examples
疲れたね。少し休もう。
We're tired. Let's rest a bit.
週末、映画を見に行こうか。
Shall we go see a movie this weekend?
明日から毎朝走ろう。
From tomorrow I'll run every morning.
Keep in mind
- Group 1 conjugation: pay attention to the お-row sound, e.g. かう → かおう (not かうう).
- Don't invite someone above you using the volitional form — it sounds too casual.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong先生、一緒に食べよう。
Teacher, let's eat together.
Correct先生、一緒に食べましょう。
Vietnamese speakers tend to think "let's eat together" is an ordinary polite sentence, but the volitional form is casual. When speaking to a teacher/superior, you must use ～ましょう.
-
Wrong新しい靴を買うう。
I'll buy new shoes.
Correct新しい靴を買おう。
Group 1 conjugation requires changing the final sound to the お-row before adding う. かう has final sound う → お → かおう.
Exam tips
- Quick recognition: ending in ～おう／～よう = volitional. Don't confuse it with ～ように (purpose, taught in a different N4 group).