ませんか (masenka) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Would You Like To?
Anna Baffa Volpe
Get in touch with meThe expression ませんか (masenka
) represents the negative interrogative form of ます and we can translated it as would you like to?
, won't you?
or how about doing something?
.
ませんか is commonly used for invitations and requests in the polite form or simply in its negative interrogative function.
In this post we learn more about meaning of ませんか, how it is formed, and when ませんか is used through real example sentences.
How ませんか is formed
The expression ませんか is formed by:
- the suffix ます which is added to the B2 or Verb Base ending in い and creates the polite form in the present tense
- and the interrogative particle か which in Japanese replaces the question mark (?)
In the case of Ichidan verbs we have the structure:
Why don't you eat it?
With the Godan verbs we have the form:
Why don't we go?
Let's see an example of conjugation with the verb する to do
, in particular with the structure:
- Noun + する
- テニスする:
play tennis
まゆみ
土曜日の午後、テニスをしませんか。
Would you like to play tennis this Saturday afternoon?
けい子
すみません。土曜日は仕事があります。
Sorry. I have to work on Saturday.
How and when to use ませんか
ませんか is used when we want to invite a person to do something with us or when we make polite requests.
あき子
いっしょに帰りませんか。
Would you like to come back with me?
ちえ子
はい。
Yes.
いっしょに昼ごはんを食べませんか。
Would you like to have lunch together?
少し休みませんか。
Why don't you take a break?
ませんか in its negative interrogative function
ませんか is also commonly used in its ordinary negative interrogative function.
For example in the sentence:
人生って短いと思いませんか?
Don't you think that life is short?
どうにか改善できませんか。
Can't it be improved somehow?
A verb often used in this form is ある to be
or to exist
in the negative ありません.
ハリケーンがあると聞きましたが、危険はありませんか?
We have heard that there is a hurricane, are there any dangerous risks?
Examples of ませんか
ラーメンを食べに行きませんか。
Won't you go eat ramen with me?
週末、一緒に映画を見ませんか。
Would you like to watch a movie together this weekend?
ちょっと散歩しませんか。
Why don't we go for a short walk?
Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚
から
から (kara) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Because
だけ
だけ (dake) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Only
たりする
たりする (tari suru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Do Such Things as A, B Etc
ちがう
ちがう (chigau) Meaning Japanese Grammar - No
まだ
まだ (mada) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Still
ないでください
ないでください (naide kudasai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Please Do Not Do