Understanding Volitional Form in Japanese

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Volitional Form in Japanese

The volitional form in Japanese is a versatile and essential grammatical structure. It’s often used to express intentions, suggestions, or invitations. Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of saying, “Let’s” or “Shall we?” in English.

This post will break it down into two main categories: the informal volitional form and the polite volitional form, making it easy for learners of all levels to grasp and apply.

1. The Informal Volitional Form

The informal volitional form is used casually among friends, family, or people you’re close to. It’s the shorter, more relaxed version of suggesting something.

How to Form It

The structure depends on whether the verb is a う-verb or a る-verb. Here’s how you can form the volitional form:

For う-verbs: Replace the final う sound with おう.
- Example:
  - 行く (iku – to go) → 行こう (ikou – Let’s go)
  - 飲む (nomu – to drink) → 飲もう (nomou – Let’s drink)
For る-verbs: Drop the る and add よう.
- Example:
  - 食べる (taberu – to eat) → 食べよう (tabeyou – Let’s eat)
  - 見る (miru – to see/watch) → 見よう (miyou – Let’s watch)
Irregular verbs: These don’t follow the usual patterns and need to be memorized:
- する (suru – to do) → しよう (shiyou – Let’s do)
- 来る (kuru – to come) → 来よう (koyou – Let’s come)

When to Use It

Use the informal volitional form in casual contexts:

Planning something with friends:
- 映画を見よう！ (Eiga o miyou! – Let’s watch a movie!)
Deciding something for yourself:
- もっと頑張ろう。 (Motto ganbarou. – I’ll try harder.)

2. The Polite Volitional Form

For more formal situations, the polite volitional form is used. This is especially common in workplaces, public settings, or when speaking to superiors or strangers.

How to Form It

The polite volitional form follows a straightforward rule:

Take the stem of the verb and add ましょう.
Example:
- 行く (iku – to go) → 行きましょう (ikimashou – Let’s go)
- 食べる (taberu – to eat) → 食べましょう (tabemashou – Let’s eat)

When to Use It

Use the polite volitional form in formal or respectful contexts:

Inviting someone politely:
- 一緒に昼ご飯を食べましょうか？ (Issho ni hiru gohan o tabemashou ka? – Shall we have lunch together?)
Offering a suggestion in a business setting:
- 次のステップを考えましょう。 (Tsugi no suteppu o kangaemashou. – Let’s think about the next step.)

3. Key Differences Between Informal and Polite Forms

Aspect	Informal Volitional Form	Polite Volitional Form
Tone	Casual	Formal/Respectful
Ending	おう/よう	Verb stem + ましょう
Usage Context	Friends, family	Business, public, formal

4. Practice Makes Perfect!

Here are a few sentences to test your understanding. Try converting them into both informal and polite volitional forms:

泳ぐ (oyogu – to swim)
話す (hanasu – to talk)
勉強する (benkyou suru – to study)

Answers:

泳ぐ: 泳ごう / 泳ぎましょう
話す: 話そう / 話しましょう
勉強する: 勉強しよう / 勉強しましょう

By mastering the volitional form, you’ll be well on your way to expressing intentions and making suggestions naturally in Japanese. Practice using these forms in conversations, and soon they’ll become second nature. 頑張りましょう！ (Ganbarimashou! – Let’s do our best!)

If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.

Happy learning! 😊

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