Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 3: 9/18

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

Structure

Examples:
[る1]Verb() +
[る5]Verb(すわ) +
[う]Verb(うた) +
[く]Verb(ある) +
[す]Verb(はな) +
[つ]Verb() +
[ぬ]Verb() +
[ぶ]Verb() +
[む]Verb(やす) +
[ぐ]Verb(およ) +


Exceptions:
する → しよう
くる → こよう

Details

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About Verb[よう]

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 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.

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.

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 (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).

Synonyms

Examples

--:--

    あなたが好きなケーキ()ってあげよう

    I'll buy you a cake that you like.

    毎日(まいにち)スポーツしよう

    Let's play sports every day.

    (あさ)(はん)()べに()こう

    Let's go out to eat for breakfast.

    ここあまりいいものがないから(かえ)ろう

    There is not really anything good here, so let's go home.

    今日(きょう)(はや)(かえ)ろう

    Let's go home early today.

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Verb[よう] – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

  • marlowe

    marlowe

    What does る5 mean?

  • gyroninja

    gyroninja

    It’s explained in the structure legend. It represents a godan verb.

  • marlowe

    marlowe

    Okay thanks - I’d figured it was a godan verb, just haven’t seen a number above る2 before!

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