How to Say ‘Shall we go?’ in Japanese
行きませんか
iki mase n ka
[iki mase n ka]
💬 Usage Tip: [行きませんか] is a negative question, but it means a friendly invitation: "Won't you go?" or more naturally, "Would you like to go?"
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese invitations often use negative questions because they sound softer and more polite than direct commands.
Phrase Breakdown
行き
iki
[iki]
go
Verb stem of 行く, used in polite forms like invitations.
今から駅へ行きます。
I am going to the station now.
ませ
mase
[mase]
polite negative part
Part of the polite negative form; in invitations it softens the question.
今日は帰りません。
I won't go home today.
ん
n
[n]
not
Completes the negative polite ending ません.
まだ食べません。
I won't eat yet.
か
ka
[ka]
question marker
Sentence-final particle that turns a statement into a question.
行きますか。
Are you going?
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