What does ～ましょう mean? Japanese grammar N5

Forming it

How to use it

Invite someone to do something together, or make a suggestion.

• ましょう invites someone to do something together — the speaker also participates.
• ましょうか is softer, meaning "shall we ~?" or "let me ~" (offering help).
• Different from ませんか: ませんか is more polite, making it easier for the listener to decline.

Examples

• いっしょに昼(ひる)ご飯(はん)を食(た)べましょう。

  Let's eat lunch together.

• 少(すこ)し休(やす)みましょうか。

  Shall we rest a little?

Common mistakes

• Wrong食(た)べるましょう。

  Correct食(た)べましょう。

  ましょう attaches to the ます stem (drop ます), not the dictionary form.

Related patterns

• ～ませんか
• ～ます