Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 9: 3/13

ませんかWon't you, Would you not, Why don't we

Structure

Verb[ない] +

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Sentence Ending Particle

  • Register

    Polite

About ませんか

ませんか (or ないか more casually) is an expression that is used after verbs as an invitation. It basically translates to 'won't you do (A) with me?'.

This expression is a little bit different to ましょうか, in that it sounds directly like an invitation to do (A). ましょうか tends to sound more like a suggestion that (A) should be done.

It is recommended to use the ませんか version, as ないか would be a bit too casual to use with someone that you are not very close with (and is also technically not correct Japanese).

To make it clearer that the speaker wants to do (A) 'with' someone, expressions like 一緒(いっしょ) 'together' are often added, for clarification.

To examine the difference between ましょうか and ませんか, let's have a look at how the nuance changes in the same type of sentence.

Here, ませんか will come across as an invitation due to the fact that you are asking the person if they 'wouldn't mind doing (A)' with you. This is the main reason that it is considered a more polite option when inviting someone to do something, than ましょうか.

Examples

--:--

    寿司(すし)()べに()きませんか

    Won't you go eat sushi (with me)?

    サッカーしませんか

    Won't you play soccer (with me)?

    一緒(いっしょ)文法(ぶんぽう)勉強(べんきょう)しませんか

    Won't you study grammar with me?

    風呂(ふろ)一緒(いっしょ)(はい)りませんか

    Won't you take a bath with me?

    金曜日(きんようび)()(もの)()きませんか

    Won't you go shopping (with me) on Friday?

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      ませんか – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (8 in total)

      • MikkaT

        MikkaT

        I just wanted to say, that I believe there is a typo in the description.

        image776×490 48.5 KB
      • Fuga

        Fuga

        Hey there! This seemed like a typo on our end so we have just fixed it!

      • Tensor

        Tensor

        Is ないですか a valid way to end this form? (How です can be added to the end of ない to make it more polite)

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