Japanese Language Grammar -masenka (-ませんか)
Japanese Grammar Pattern : -ませんか(-masenka)
Translation :
1. | Why don’t | + | subject | + | verb |
For an example : Why don’t we, Why don’t they |
|||||
2. | Wouldn’t (would not) | + | subject | + | do |
3. | Won’t (would not) | + | subject | + | do |
4. | Any other translation which has the same vibe on suggestion doing something. |
Main Purpose : This Japanese grammar pattern is used when we are suggesting on doing something to someone else. In other words, we can also say that this grammar pattern can also be used when we want to invite someone to do something together.
Basically, this Japanese grammar pattern is an interrogative sentence or a question. We will give more detail description on the main purpose as follows :
1.Asking on someone else by suggesting to do something :
Kanji :
こんな時間にまだ残業しますか。
疲れそうですね、少しずつ休みませんか。
Hiragana :
こんなじかんにまだざんぎょうしますか。
つかれそうですね、すこしずつやすみませんか。
Romaji :
Konna jikan ni mada zangyou shimasuka ?.
Tsukaresou desu ne, sukoshi zutsu yasumimasenka ?.
Meaning :
Are you still (taking) doing overtime at this time ?
You look tired, why don’t you rest for a bit ?
In this context, we are using verb ‘休む・やすむ「yasumu」which can be translated as ‘to get rest, to take rest’. To be able to use the verb in the Japanese grammar pattern as stated in this lesson, we need to change the verb into a specific verb conjugation which is called ‘連用形・れんようけい’ 「renyoukei」. Below is the pattern description :
Kanji : 動詞「連用形」 +-ませんか
Hiragana : どうし「れんようけい」 +-ませんか
Romaji : doushi 「renyoukei」 +-masenka
Meaning : verb 「renyoukei」 +-masenka
The chosen verb based on the pattern above will be formed as follows :
Kanji : 休み +-ませんか
Hiragana : やすみ +-ませんか
Romaji : yasumi +-masenka
Meaning : why don’t take a rest
The final form of the verb used in the above example will be ‘yasumimasenka’「 休みませんか・やすみませんか」。
2.Asking someone else or the other party by inviting them to do something together
Kanji :
映画館でいっしょにで映画を見ませんか
Hiragana :
えいがかんでいっしょにえいがをみませんか。
Romaji :
Eigakan de isshoni eiga wo mimasenka ?
Meaning :
Would you watch a movie together (with me) at the cinema (theatre).
In the above example, the verb which is chosen is ‘miru’ 「見る・みる」。As already explained before, the verb must changed on the first hand into ‘renyoukei’ 「連用形・れんようけい」based on the same pattern as follows :
Kanji : 動詞「連用形」 +-ませんか
Hiragana : どうし「れんようけい」 +-ませんか
Romaji : doushi 「renyoukei」 +-masenka
Meaning : verb 「renyoukei」 +-masenka
The verb will be formed as follows :
Kanji : 休み +-ませんか
Hiragana : やすみ +-ませんか
Romaji : yasumi +-masenka
Meaning : why don’t watch
So, the final form of the verb is ‘mimasenka’ 「見ませんか・みませんか」。
Since it is actually a question, the other party can just reply with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. The answer itself depends on the other party whether they agreed to follow the suggestion or the invitation of the party whom giving the question.