Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 3: 9/18

う・よう (Volitional)
Let's, I shall (casual volitional)

Structure
Casual
Polite
Examples:
[る1]Verb → 見 +
[る5]Verb → 座 +
[う]Verb → 歌 +
[く]Verb → 歩 +
[す]Verb → 話 +
[つ]Verb → 打 +
[ぬ]Verb → 死 +
[ぶ]Verb → 飛 +
[む]Verb → 休 +
[ぐ]Verb → 泳 +


Exceptions:
する → しよう
くる → こよう
Examples:
[る1]Verb → 見 + ましょう
[る5]Verb → 座 + ましょう
[う]Verb → 歌 + ましょう
[く]Verb → 歩 + ましょう
[す]Verb → 話 + ましょう
[つ]Verb → 打 + ましょう
[ぬ]Verb → 死 + ましょう
[ぶ]Verb → 飛 + ましょう
[む]Verb → 休 + ましょう
[ぐ]Verb → 泳 + ましょう


Exceptions:
する → しましょう
くる → きましょう
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
よう (and ) are grammar constructions that function in a similar way to ましょう, or to be more precise, ましょう is the polite (conjugated) form of these auxiliary verbs. They are used as a casual way of expressing ‘let’s’ when making suggestions, or ‘I shall’ when making statements.
よう is only one of the potential forms of this grammar point, and can actually be divided into two separate 助動詞(じょどうし) (auxiliary verbs), (used with う-Verbs), and よう (used with る-Verbs, する, and くる).
When attaching to う-Verbs, simply replace the last kana with the equivalent お sound kana from within the same column (く becomes こ, う becomes お, す becomes そ, etc.), before adding . For る-Verbs, replace る with よう.
  • 今夜(こんや)先輩(せんぱい)試合(しあい)見(み)に行(い)こう
    Tonight, let's go watch the senpais tournament!
  • 早(はや)く食(た)べよう
    Let's eat already!
As with many other verb conjugations, する and くる behave in a slightly different way to regular う-Verbs and る-Verbs. する will become しよう, while くる will become こよう.
  • 私(わたし)運転(うんてん)よう
    Shall I drive?
  • 今日(きょう)お金(かね)無(な)いから明日(あした)よう
    I don't have money today, so let's come tomorrow.
The type of statements that , and よう can be used for in Japanese are usually divided into three categories.
推量(すいりょう) - Expresses guesses (has a similar meaning to だろう, which itself is the よう form of )
意志(いし) - Expresses intentions (has a similar meaning to ~するつもりだ)
勧誘(かんゆう) - Expresses invitations or encouragement (has a similar meaning to 誘(さそ)う ‘to invite’)
Caution
Although よう is used with る-Verbs, する, and くる, it should not be confused with ようだ, another auxiliary verb that is used when describing likeness (in a similar way to そうだ).
Slow Male
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毎日(まいにち)スポーツよう
Let's play sports every day.
Play  
朝(あさ)ご飯(はん)食(た)べに行(い)こう
Let's go out to eat for breakfast.
Play  
今日(きょう)早(はや)く帰(かえ)ろう
Let's go home early today.
Play  
Books
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 13
みんなの日本語 II
Page 42 [CH 31]
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 54
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 78
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 150