Japanese Language Grammar -mashou （－ましょう）

Japanese Grammar Pattern        : －ましょう（－mashou）

Translation                                        :

Main Purpose                    : This Japanese grammar pattern is used when we want to say to inform or to state on doing something.   Even more, it can be used to state and to inform on doing something together.

We will give more detail description on the main purpose as follows :

1. Making announcement or stating information before doing or before starting to do something :

Kanji                      :

今から日本語のクラスを始めましょう。。。

Hiragana              :

いまからにほんごのクラスをはじめましょう。。。

Romaji                  :

Ima kara nihongo no kurasu wo hajimemashou …

Meaning              :

The Japanese class is going to begin starting from now on

In the above context, the teacher speaks to all of his or her students to inform that he or she will start to begin the Japanese class. The verb which is used in the example given above is focusing on the usage of verb ‘hajimeru’「始める・はじめる」. This verb can be translated as ‘to begin, to start’. Before we can use the verb itself, we have modify the verb into a certain verb conjugation which is called the ‘連用形・れんようけい’ 「renyoukei」.  Below is the pattern description :

So, the final form of the verb based on the above pattern is shown follow :

Final form            : 始めましょう・はじめましょう「hajimemashou」

Meaning              :  Let’s start, let’s begin

2. Giving statement or information to someone else to do something together which is actually implying invitation to do something together :

Kanji                      :

もう午後１時になりますね。じゃ、一緒に食べましょう

Hiragana              :

もう午後１じになりますね。じゃ、いっしょにたべましょう。

Romaji                  :

Mou gogo 1 ji ni narimasu ne. Jya, isshoni tabemashou.

Meaning              :

It’s already 1 PM. Well, let’s eat together.

As shown in the above example, the subject states to someone else to do something together. The pattern shown as explained before first of all has something to do with changing the verb which has the function of describing what is being stated. The one which is being stated is  ‘taberu’　「食べる・たべる」. The verb itself is translated as ‘to eat’.  Based on the same pattern :

                Try to reform the verb into the above pattern :

Do you have any additional opinion regarding the Japanese lesson in this article concerning the grammar which is used in Japanese language in form of -mashou?. Please feel free to discuss.