ましょう・
ましょう is "let's". With か it becomes a question: "shall we?" when you would do it together, "shall I?" when you would do it for the other person.
How to form it
Verb ます-stem + ましょう（か）
行きます → 行きましょう, 行きましょうか. Casual: 行こう, 行こうか.
| Who does it | English | |
|---|---|---|
| 行きましょう | Both of you | Let's go. |
| 行きましょうか | Both of you | Shall we go? |
| 持ちましょうか | You, for them | Shall I carry it? |
Let's: ましょう
It fits when doing it together is already settled or obvious: the meeting is due to start, or the other person has just suggested it.
Let's stop here for today.
Let's do our best together.
A teacher or a poster is not joining in. From them it is a friendly way to tell people what to do.
ましょう or ませんか?
Would you like to go home together?
You are asking. They may not want to.
Let's go home together.
You both already expect to.
Shall we?: ましょうか
Because it asks, it is softer than ましょう. With a question word, it is how two people make a plan.
Shall we take a short break?
Where shall we meet?
What shall we do?
Shall I?: ましょうか
When the action would help the other person, it is an offer. 私が makes it clear you mean yourself.
This box is heavy, isn't it?
Shall I carry it?
Shall I close the window?
Shall I turn on the air conditioner?
Saying yes and no
To a suggestion, you agree and say it back. To say no, you trail off after ちょっと; nobody expects the reason.
Let's have lunch at that restaurant.
That sounds good. Let's do that.
Sorry, today is a bit…
To an offer, the answer is thanks, not ましょう.
Shall I make tea?
Thank you. Yes, please.
Not said: はい、
(Yes, let's make it.)
This would mean you make the tea together.
With friends: 行こう
Among friends and family, ましょう becomes （よ）う and does the same three jobs: 行こう "let's go", 行こうか "shall we go?", 手伝おうか "shall I help?".
| Verb | Change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Godan verbs (う-verbs) | Last kana to its お sound, then う: く → こう, む → もう, う → おう | 行く → 行こう, 休む → 休もう, 買う → 買おう |
| Ichidan verbs (る-verbs) | る → よう | 食べる → 食べよう |
| する, 来る | Irregular | しよう, 来よう |
Let's go to the beach together this weekend.
We're tired, aren't we? Let's take a short break.
Said to yourself, it is something you have just decided to do.
It's hot. I'll open the window.
Close neighbours
ませんかN5
Asks whether the other person would like to, so it is easy to refuse.
Would you like to have lunch together?
（よ）うN4
行こう has other jobs too. With と思います it says what you are thinking of doing.
I'm thinking of going to Japan next year.
Check yourself
1Someone offers to carry your bag, and you would like them to. What do you say?
荷物を
Choose an answer to see why.
2You have a pile of boxes to move. A colleague says this. What does she mean?
手伝いましょうか。
Choose an answer to see why.
3You want to invite a new classmate to lunch, and make it easy for them to say no. Which fits?
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
A firmer offer
私が with ましょう says you have already decided to do it for them.
I'll do that.
Let's not
ましょう has no negative. People say やめましょう.
It's raining, so let's not do it today.
In shops and hotels
Staff offer help with a humble version of the same ending.
Shall I carry your bags?
More sentences
Next, let's check the answer.
Shall I open the door?
Shall I copy the documents?
Let's all take a picture.
Let's watch this movie together.
I'll come a little earlier tomorrow.