Lesson 12: いっしょにのみに行きませんか – Inviting Friends Out in Japanese
Making plans and invitations
Learn vocabulary for making invitations, discussing plans, and talking about events. This lesson focuses on social invitations, dates, and event-related vocabulary.
Key topics:
- ・Making invitations and suggestions
- ・Talking about dates and times
- ・Event and festival vocabulary
- ・Social activities and gatherings
- ・Months and dates in Japanese
- ・Accepting and declining invitations
Vocabulary
1
あう
au
会う
to meet
Example
あした あいましょう.
Ashita aimashou.
Let's meet tomorrow.
2
あそぶ
asobu
遊ぶ
to play/hang out
Example
こうえんで あそびませんか.
Kouen de asobimasen ka.
Would you like to hang out at the park?
3
いく
iku
行く
to go
Example
がっこうにいきます.
Gakkou ni ikimasu.
I go to school.
4
たのしい
tanoshii
楽しい
fun
Example
パーティーは たのしかったです.
Paatii wa tanoshikatta desu.
The party was fun.
5
おととい
ototoi
一昨日
day before yesterday
Example
おととい えいがを みました.
Ototoi eiga o mimashita.
I watched a movie the day before yesterday.
6
きのう
kinou
昨日
yesterday
Example
きのう ともだちに あいました.
Kinou tomodachi ni aimashita.
I met a friend yesterday.
7
きょう
kyou
今日
today
Example
きょうのばんごはんはなんですか？
Kyou no bangohan wa nan desu ka?
What is today's dinner?
8
あした
ashita
明日
tomorrow
Example
あした あいましょう.
Ashita aimashou.
Let's meet tomorrow.
9
あさって
asatte
-
day after tomorrow
Example
あさって あいましょう.
Asatte aimashou.
Let's meet the day after tomorrow.
10
こんばん
konban
今晩
this evening
Example
こんばん ひまですか.
Konban hima desu ka.
Are you free this evening?
11
こんしゅう
konshuu
今週
this week
Example
こんしゅうの どようびです.
Konshuu no doyoubi desu.
It's this Saturday.
12
らいしゅう
raishuu
来週
next week
Example
らいしゅうの すいようびです.
Raishuu no suiyoubi desu.
It's next Wednesday.
13
こんど
kondo
今度
next / next time
Example
こんど あいましょう.
Kondo aimashou.
Let's meet next time.
14
がつ
gatsu
月
month of the year
Example
なんがつですか.
Nangatsu desu ka.
What month is it?
15
にち
nichi
日
day of the month
Example
なんにちですか.
Nannichi desu ka.
What day of the month is it?
16
にちじ
nichiji
日時
date and time
Example
にちじを おしえてください.
Nichiji o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell me the date and time.
17
ねん
nen
年
year
Example
なんねんですか.
Nannen desu ka.
What year is it?
18
いちがつ
ichigatsu
1月
January
Example
いちがつ ついたちは がんたんです.
Ichigatsu tsuitachi wa gantan desu.
January 1st is New Year's Day.
19
しがつ
shigatsu
4月
April
Example
しがつに がっこうが はじまります.
Shigatsu ni gakkou ga hajimarimasu.
School starts in April.
20
しちがつ
shichigatsu
7月
July
Example
しちがつは なつです.
Shichigatsu wa natsu desu.
July is summer.
21
くがつ
kugatsu
9月
September
Example
くがつに つきみに いきます.
Kugatsu ni tsukimi ni ikimasu.
I go moon viewing in September.
22
じゅうにがつ
juunigatsu
12月
December
Example
じゅうにがつに くりすますがあります.
Juunigatsu ni kurisumasu ga arimasu.
There's Christmas in December.
23
ついたち
tsuitachi
1日
1st (day of the month)
Example
しがつ ついたちです.
Shigatsu tsuitachi desu.
It's April 1st.
24
ふつか
futsuka
2日
2nd (day of the month)
Example
ごがつ ふつかです.
Gogatsu futsuka desu.
It's May 2nd.
25
みっか
mikka
3日
3rd (day of the month)
Example
くがつ みっかです.
Kugatsu mikka desu.
It's September 3rd.
26
よっか
yokka
4日
4th (day of the month)
Example
じゅうがつ よっかです.
Juugatsu yokka desu.
It's October 4th.
27
いつか
itsuka
5日
5th (day of the month)
Example
しちがつ いつかです.
Shichigatsu itsuka desu.
It's July 5th.
28
むいか
muika
6日
6th (day of the month)
Example
いちがつ むいかです.
Ichigatsu muika desu.
It's January 6th.
29
なのか
nanoka
7日
7th (day of the month)
Example
にがつ なのかです.
Nigatsu nanoka desu.
It's February 7th.
30
ようか
youka
8日
8th (day of the month)
Example
さんがつ ようかです.
Sangatsu youka desu.
It's March 8th.
31
ここのか
kokonoka
9日
9th (day of the month)
Example
ろくがつ ここのかです.
Rokugatsu kokonoka desu.
It's June 9th.
32
とおか
tooka
10日
10th (day of the month)
Example
はちがつ とおかです.
Hachigatsu tooka desu.
It's August 10th.
33
じゅうよっか
juuyokka
14日
14th (day of the month)
Example
しがつ じゅうよっかです.
Shigatsu juuyokka desu.
It's April 14th.
34
はつか
hatsuka
20日
20th (day of the month)
Example
じゅうがつ はつかです.
Juugatsu hatsuka desu.
It's October 20th.
35
にじゅうよっか
nijuuyokka
24日
24th (day of the month)
Example
ごがつ にじゅうよっかです.
Gogatsu nijuuyokka desu.
It's May 24th.
36
イベント
ibento
-
event
Example
たのしい イベントです.
Tanoshii ibento desu.
It's a fun event.
37
こうりゅう
kouryuu
交流
exchange
Example
日本語 こうりゅうかいがあります.
Nihongo kouryuu kai ga arimasu.
There's a Japanese language exchange meeting.
38
なつまつり
natsumatsuri
夏祭り
summer festival
Example
なつまつりに いきませんか.
Natsumatsuri ni ikimasen ka.
Would you like to go to the summer festival?
39
パーティー
paatii
-
party
Example
たんじょうびパーティーを します.
Tanjoubi paatii o shimasu.
I'll have a birthday party.
40
ぼうねんかい
bounenkai
忘年会
year-end party
Example
しごとの ぼうねんかいがあります.
Shigoto no bounenkai ga arimasu.
There's a work year-end party.
41
しあい
shiai
試合
match / game
Example
やきゅうの しあいを みます.
Yakyuu no shiai o mimasu.
I'll watch a baseball game.
42
フェスティバル
fesutibaru
-
festival
Example
フェスティバルが あります.
Fesutibaru ga arimasu.
There's a festival.
43
ばしょ
basho
場所
place
Example
ばしょを おしえてください.
Basho o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell me the place.
44
ひろば
hiroba
広場
square
Example
えきまえの ひろばで あいましょう.
Ekimae no hiroba de aimashou.
Let's meet at the square in front of the station.
45
ホール
hooru
-
hall
Example
しちょうの ホールで あります.
Shichou no hooru de arimasu.
It's at the city hall.
46
かいじょう
kaijou
会場
venue
Example
かいじょうは どこですか.
Kaijou wa doko desu ka.
Where is the venue?
47
ちゅうしゃじょう
chuushajou
駐車場
parking lot
Example
ちゅうしゃじょうが ありますか.
Chuushajou ga arimasu ka.
Is there a parking lot?
48
やきにく
yakiniku
焼肉
yakiniku (Japanese grilled meat)
Example
やきにくに いきませんか.
Yakiniku ni ikimasen ka.
Would you like to go for yakiniku?
49
バーベキュー
baabekyuu
-
barbecue
Example
バーベキューを しましょう.
Baabekyuu o shimashou.
Let's have a barbecue.
50
にゅうじょうりょう
nyuujou ryou
入場料
entry fee
Example
にゅうじょうりょうは ひゃくえんです.
Nyuujou ryou wa hyaku en desu.
The entry fee is 100 yen.
51
からて
karate
空手
karate
Example
からての しあいがあります.
Karate no shiai ga arimasu.
There's a karate match.
52
はいきんぐ
haikingu
ハイキング
hiking
Example
やまに はいきんぐに いきます.
Yama ni haikingu ni ikimasu.
I go hiking in the mountains.
53
いっしょに
issho ni
-
together
Example
いっしょに いきませんか.
Issho ni ikimasen ka.
Would you like to go together?
54
もちろん
mochiron
-
of course
Example
もちろん、いきます.
Mochiron, ikimasu.
Of course, I'll go.
Conversation
1
いっしょに いきませんか.
Issho ni ikimasen ka.
Would you like to go together?
Example Usage
えいがに いっしょに いきませんか.
Eiga ni issho ni ikimasen ka.
Would you like to go to a movie together?
2
いいですね.
Ii desu ne.
That sounds good.
Example Usage
あした えいが？いいですね.
Ashita eiga? Ii desu ne.
A movie tomorrow? That sounds good.
3
なんじに しましょうか.
Nan-ji ni shimashou ka.
What time should we make it?
Example Usage
えきまえで なんじに しましょうか.
Ekimae de nan-ji ni shimashou ka.
What time should we meet in front of the station?
4
さんじは どうですか.
San-ji wa dou desu ka.
How about 3 o'clock?
Example Usage
あさっての さんじは どうですか.
Asatte no san-ji wa dou desu ka.
How about 3 o'clock the day after tomorrow?
5
じゃあ、さんじに しましょう.
Jaa, san-ji ni shimashou.
Well then, let's make it 3 o'clock.
Example Usage
じゃあ、えきまえで さんじに しましょう.
Jaa, ekimae de san-ji ni shimashou.
Well then, let's meet at the station at 3 o'clock.
Kanji
1
今日
today
今🎬
now
日🎬
day
Example
きょうの よる ひまですか.
Kyou no yoru hima desu ka.
Are you free tonight?
2
明日
tomorrow
明🎬
bright, next
日🎬
day
Example
あした あいましょう.
Ashita aimashou.
Let's meet tomorrow.
3
昨日
yesterday
昨🎬
yesterday, previous
日🎬
day
Example
きのう ともだちに あいました.
Kinou tomodachi ni aimashita.
I met a friend yesterday.
4
一昨日
day before yesterday
一🎬
one
昨🎬
yesterday, previous
日🎬
day
Example
おととい えいがを みました.
Ototoi eiga o mimashita.
I watched a movie the day before yesterday.
5
今晩
this evening
今🎬
now
晩🎬
evening
Example
こんばん ひまですか.
Konban hima desu ka.
Are you free this evening?
6
今週
this week
今🎬
now
週🎬
week
Example
こんしゅうの どようびです.
Konshuu no doyoubi desu.
It's this Saturday.
7
来週
next week
来🎬
next, come
週🎬
week
Example
らいしゅうの すいようびです.
Raishuu no suiyoubi desu.
It's next Wednesday.
8
今度
next / next time
今🎬
now
度🎬
time, occasion
Example
こんど あいましょう.
Kondo aimashou.
Let's meet next time.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Saying when and where an event takes place
Structure: [Date/Time] + に + [Place] + で + [Event] + が + あります
These expressions are for sharing that there will be an event by giving the date, time, and place. The date and time are indicated with に, the location with で, and the event with が + あります.
How to use: Use [Date/Time] + に for specific times such as 日曜日に, 12月20日に, and 7時に. However, に may be omitted in spoken language, and it is not added to words such as 明日 and 来週. Use [Place] + で for the event location, as in さくら公園で. The question form is [Event] + が + ありますか.The negative is [Event] + は + ありません.
💡 Pro Tip: Use に for specific dates and times, but で for the place where the event happens. Do not say 日曜日で for the date or さくら公園に for the event location. あります is used for events and things, not for people or animals.
Examples
日曜日に、さくら公園でタイフェスティバルがありますね.
Nichiyoubi ni, Sakura kouen de Tai fesutibaru ga arimasu ne.
There is a Thai festival at Sakura Park on Sunday.
12月20日に、こうえんでコンサートがあります.
Juunigatsu hatsuka ni, kouen de konsaato ga arimasu.
There is a concert in the park on December 20th.
Rule 2: Saying you are going to an event
Structure: [Event/Action Noun] + に + 行きます
This expression indicates the purpose of going. It is used to ask whether someone is going to an event. The particle に indicates the purpose when it follows a noun representing an event or action, such as ぼう年会, 映画, しごう, or 散歩. It is used together with the verb 行く.
How to use: Use [Event/Action Noun] + に + 行きます.The question form is [Event] + に + 行きますか.The negative is 行きません.In casual speech, 行く？ and 行かない are used. The particle に here marks the event or activity you are going to.
💡 Pro Tip: Do not use を with 行きます; say ぼう年会に行きます, not ぼう年会を行きます. に marks the purpose or destination, while で marks the place where an action happens. For direction, へ can sometimes replace に, but this pattern keeps に.
Examples
明日のぼうねんかいに行きますか？
Ashita no bounenkai ni ikimasu ka?
Are you going to the year-end party tomorrow?
日曜日にしあいに行きます.
Nichiyoubi ni shiai ni ikimasu.
I'm going to a game on Sunday.
Rule 3: Inviting someone to do something
Structure: V-ませんか？
This expression is for inviting the other person. Change ます, the マス-form suffix of the verb, to ませんか？. It politely asks whether the other person would like to do something together.
How to use: Use V-ませんか？ for a polite invitation. Example: いっしょに行きませんか？.For a casual invitation, use V-ない？.A related positive suggestion is V-ましょう.The form is already negative in shape, but it functions as an invitation rather than a plain negative question.
💡 Pro Tip: V-ませんか？ is a polite invitation, while V-ましょう is a stronger suggestion. Do not confuse ませんか？ with a negative question asking whether someone does not do something. Rising intonation makes the invitation clear.
Examples
いっしょに行きませんか？
Issho ni ikimasen ka?
Do you want to go together?
あした、いっしょに昼ごはんを食べませんか？
Ashita, issho ni hirugohan o tabemasen ka?
Would you like to have lunch together tomorrow?
Rule 4: Saying you are going somewhere to do something
Structure: V-に + 行きます
This expression indicates the purpose of going using verbs. It is used here to invite the other person with V-に行きませんか？.Remove ます from the マス-form of the verb and add the particle に, as in 食べに.
How to use: Use V-ます stem + に + 行きます.For an invitation, use V-に + 行きませんか？.The negative is V-に + 行きません.The verb before に must be in its マス-form stem, not the dictionary form.
💡 Pro Tip: Say 食べに行きます, not 食べるに行きます. The particle に marks the purpose of going. 行きます can be replaced by other motion verbs in context, but this lesson uses 行きます.
| Masu | Ni |
|---|---|
| 食(た)べます | 食(た)べに行(い)きます |
| 聞(き)きます | 聞(き)きに行(い)きます |
| 飲(の)みます | 飲(の)みに行(い)きます |
| 見(み)ます | みにいきます |
Examples
みんなで、いっしょにやきにくを食べに行きませんか？
Minna de, issho ni yakiniku o tabe ni ikimasen ka?
Would you like to go and have some yakiniku with everyone?
しゅうまつに友だちと映画をみにいきます.
Shuumatsu ni tomodachi to eiga o mi ni ikimasu.
I'm going to see a movie with friends this weekend.
Rule 5: Suggesting doing something together
Structure: V-ましょう
This expression is for suggesting doing something together or telling someone that you will do something together. It is used here to assure that you will go together after being invited, and to suggest doing something at the next opportunity after the invitation is declined.
How to use: Change ます to ましょう.Use V-ましょう for a polite suggestion. A related invitation is V-ませんか？, and a related offer is V-ましょうか？.In casual speech, V-よう is used.
💡 Pro Tip: V-ましょう is a polite suggestion, while V-ませんか？ invites the other person to decide. V-ましょうか？ often offers to do something for someone. Do not use V-ましょう to give a direct command.
Examples
またこんど行きましょう.
Mata kondo ikimashou.
Let's go some other time.
いっしょに昼ごはんを食べましょう.
Issho ni hirugohan o tabemashou.
Let's have lunch together.
Exercises
Question 1
'There is a Thai festival at Sakura Park on Sunday.'
日曜日に、さくら公園 ______ タイフェスティバル ______ あります.
Question 2
How do you ask 'Is there a concert in the park on December 20th?'
Question 3
'Are you going to the year-end party tomorrow?'
明日のぼうねんかい ______ 行きますか.
Question 4
How do you say 'I'm going to a game on Sunday.'?
Question 5
'Would you like to go together?'
いっしょに ______.
Question 6
Which is a polite invitation?
Question 7
'I'm going to see a movie with friends this weekend.'
しゅうまつに友だちと映画を ______ 行きます.
Question 8
How do you invite someone to go eat yakiniku together?
Question 9
'Let's have lunch together.'
いっしょに昼ごはんを ______.
Question 10
What is a positive response to 'いっしょに行きませんか？'
Question 11
Choose the correct reading of 今日.
Question 12
Choose the correct reading of 明日.
Question 13
Choose the correct reading of 昨日.
Question 14
Choose the correct reading of 一昨日.
Question 15
Choose the correct reading of 今晩.
Question 16
Choose the correct reading of 今週.
Question 17
Choose the correct reading of 来週.
Question 18
Choose the correct reading of 今度.
Question 19
Which is correct: 'There is a summer festival at the park on Sunday.'
Question 20
What is the correct response to 'いっしょに映画を見ませんか？' if you accept?