ましょう Form | Let's Do ~ in Japanese (Polite)

What is the Mashou Form?

The ましょう form is how you politely suggest doing something together in Japanese. "Let's eat," "shall we start?," "let's go". All ましょう territory.

It's the polite version of the volitional form (〜よう). Use ましょう with people you're being polite to. Coworkers, acquaintances, group settings. Save the casual volitional for close friends. Our lesson on making invitations covers ましょう and ませんか together so you can practice both invitation patterns.

How to Conjugate

Take the ます form, swap ます for ましょう. Same stem, different ending:

U-verbs

Masu-Form	Mashou-Form
飲(の)みます	飲(の)みましょう
行(い)きます	行(い)きましょう
買(か)います	買(か)いましょう
話(はな)します	話(はな)しましょう

Ru-verbs

Masu-Form	Mashou-Form
食(た)べます	食(た)べましょう
見(み)ます	見(み)ましょう
始(はじ)めます	始(はじ)めましょう

Irregular Verbs

Masu-Form	Mashou-Form
します	しましょう
きます	きましょう

Two Uses

1. Suggestion: "Let's do ~"

A straightforward proposal to do something together:

始(はじ)めましょう (Let's begin)
行(い)きましょう (Let's go)
休みましょう (Let's take a break)

2. Offer: "Shall I ~?" (with か)

Add か to offer help or ask if someone wants you to do something:

手伝(てつだ)いましょうか？ (Shall I help?)
荷物(にもつ)を持(も)ちましょうか？ (Shall I carry your luggage?)
窓(まど)を開(あ)けましょうか？ (Shall I open the window?)

This is a polite, gentle way to offer assistance. Very common in customer service and daily Japanese.

Mashou vs Volitional Form

ましょう	Volitional (〜よう)
食(た)べましょう	食(た)べよう
Polite	Casual
Coworkers, groups	Close friends
Same meaning	Same meaning

Both mean "let's". The only difference is formality level. See volitional form for the full conjugation rules.

Example Sentences

始(はじ)めましょう。 (hajimemashou.) — Let's begin.
お昼(ひる)ご飯(はん)を食(た)べましょう。 (ohiru gohan wo tabemashou.) — Let's eat lunch.
始(はじ)めましょうか。 (hajimemashou ka.) — Shall we begin?
手伝(てつだ)いましょうか？ (tetsudaimashou ka?) — Shall I help?
彼(かれ)のアドバイスを聞(き)いてみましょう。 (kare no adobaisu wo kiite mimashou.) — Let's listen to his advice.
コーヒーでも飲(の)みまし��うか。 (koohii demo nomimashou ka.) — Shall we have a coffee or something?
荷物(にもつ)を持(も)ちましょうか？ (nimotsu wo mochimashou ka?) — Shall I carry your bags?
水(みず)を大切(たいせつ)にしましょう。 (mizu wo taisetsu ni shimashou.) — Let's value water.