The Japanese Volitional Form: Let’s, Shall I and I’m Thinking Of
The Japanese volitional form means “let’s” or “I’ll”, and it’s how you make suggestions and talk about plans. The polite version is easy: swap 〜ます for 〜ましょう (行きましょう, let’s go). The plain version changes the verb ending: 行く → 行こう, 食べる → 食べよう, する → しよう, 来る → 来よう (こよう). Add と思う and it becomes “I’m thinking of”: 日本に行こうと思っています (I’m thinking of going to Japan).
How to make the volitional form
| Verb group | Plain volitional | Polite volitional |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (godan) | Final -u → -ō: 行く→行こう, 飲む→飲もう, 待つ→待とう | 行きましょう, 飲みましょう |
| Group 2 (ichidan) | -ru → -yō: 食べる→食べよう, 見る→見よう | 食べましょう, 見ましょう |
| Irregular | する→しよう, 来る→来よう | しましょう, 来ましょう |
Use the plain form with friends and family and the polite form with colleagues, teachers and people you don’t know well. See casual vs polite Japanese.
Four ways to use it
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| そろそろ帰ろう。 | sorosoro kaerō. | Let’s head home soon. (suggestion) |
| 窓を開けましょうか。 | mado o akemashō ka. | Shall I open the window? (offer) |
| 週末は何をしようか。 | shūmatsu wa nani o shiyō ka. | What shall we do at the weekend? |
| 来年、JLPTを受けようと思っています。 | rainen, JLPT o ukeyō to omotte imasu. | I’m thinking of taking the JLPT next year. (plan) |
| 寝ようとしたら、電話が鳴った。 | neyō to shitara, denwa ga natta. | Just as I was about to go to sleep, the phone rang. |
| 何度も思い出そうとしたけど、だめだった。 | nando mo omoidasō to shita kedo, dame datta. | I tried again and again to remember, but couldn’t. |
- Suggestions: plain or 〜ましょう, often with か to sound softer.
- Offers: 〜ましょうか means “shall I…?”: 持ちましょうか (shall I carry that?).
- Plans and intentions: 〜ようと思う (I think I’ll) and 〜ようと思っている (I’ve been thinking of, a plan you have had for a while).
- Attempts: 〜ようとする means “try to” or “be about to”.
〜ようと思う or 〜つもり?
Both talk about plans. 行こうと思っています sounds like an idea you are leaning towards. 行くつもりです sounds more decided. To a manager, 〜ようと思っております is a soft, polite way to share a plan and invite comment, which fits Japanese workplace habits. See horenso: reporting at a Japanese company.
Common mistakes
- Using 〜ましょう to invite a superior. 先生、行きましょう can sound like an instruction. Ask instead: 一緒にいかがですか (would you like to join us?).
- Asking someone what they want to do with 〜ましょうか. For invitations, the negative question is gentler: 一緒に行きませんか (won’t you come with me?).
- Forgetting the long vowel. 行こう is ikō, not iko. See the Japanese pronunciation guide.
- 来よう read as きよう. It’s koyō.
How Hanabuddies can help
You use the volitional form every time you make plans, so it’s worth practising in conversation rather than in tables. Our native tutors teach one-to-one online and set up short role plays, such as planning a weekend, offering help at work or telling a colleague about your plans, so the forms come out quickly and at the right level of politeness.