Definition:
The Japanese volitional form (意志形 ishi-kei, also called the volitive or hortative form) is the verb conjugation expressing intention, invitation, or suggestion — equivalent to “let’s…” or “shall we…” for invitations, and “I shall/will…” for first-person intention. It has two registers:
- Plain volitional: –よう (-yō) for Group 2 (る-verbs) and irregular verbs; used in subordinate clauses, monologue/internal intention, and literary contexts
- Polite volitional: –ましょう (-mashō) for all verbs in polite register; used for invitations and suggestions in conversation
The volitional form is the base for important grammar patterns including -ようとする (try to/be about to) and -ようとしている (be in the act of trying).
Volitional Form Formation
Group 2 (ichidan / る-verbs): Replace る with よう
- 食べる (taberu) → 食べよう (tabeyō) — let’s eat / I’ll eat
Group 1 (godan / う-verbs): Change the final u-row vowel to ō:
- 行く (iku) → 行こう (ikō)
- 書く (kaku) → 書こう (kakō)
- 飲む (nomu) → 飲もう (nomō)
Irregular:
- する (suru) → しよう (shiyō)
- 来る (kuru) → 来よう (koyō)
Polite form (all verb groups): Add ましょう to the masu-stem:
- 食べます → 食べましょう (tabemashō)
Uses of the Volitional Form
1. Invitation/Suggestion (ましょう)
- 食べましょう！(Tabemashō!) — Let’s eat!
- 一緒に行きましょうか？ (Issho ni ikimashō ka) — Shall we go together?
2. First-person intention / monologue (plain よう)
- 明日は勉強しよう。 (Ashita wa benkyō shiyō) — I’ll study tomorrow [internal resolution]
3. -ようとする (try to, be about to)
- 食べようとした。 (Tabeyō to shita) — tried to eat / was about to eat
- 行こうとしている。 (Ikō to shite iru) — is trying to go / is about to go
4. -ようとしても… (even if one tries to…)
- 忘れようとしても忘れられない。 — Even if I try to forget, I can’t
History
The volitional form is historically related to the classical Japanese mu (む) auxiliary expressing conjecture/will, which evolved differently in modern Japanese. The polite ましょう form developed as part of the grammaticalization of the masu-polite system.
Common Misconceptions
- “ましょう always means let’s…” — It can also express the speaker’s strong offer or intention in certain contexts
- “Volitional form is only for invitations” — The plain form よう is widely used for self-directed intention and in -ようとする patterns
Criticisms
- The volitional form is often introduced late in curricula, leaving learners unable to express intention forms early
- The -ようとする pattern is an important grammar point that often appears without explicit introduction to the volitional form base
Social Media Sentiment
The volitional form is a common intermediate grammar milestone — learners in Japanese study communities often share progress on mastering -ましょう invitations and then discover the broader uses of the plain volitional よう. Last updated: 2026-04
Practical Application
- Introduce ましょう early for practical conversational use (invitations, suggestions)
- Teach the plain volitional よう alongside -ようとする as a package
- Sakubo — Sakubo‘s authentic Japanese content includes natural uses of both ましょう and よう patterns in invitation and intention contexts
Related Terms
See Also
Research
- Makino, S., & Tsutsui, M. (1986). A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Japan Times. — Full treatment of volitional form including -ようとする patterns.
- Shibatani, M. (1990). The Languages of Japan. Cambridge University Press. — Linguistic description of Japanese verb morphology.
- Iwasaki, S. (2002). Japanese. John Benjamins. — Typological description of Japanese including modal and volitional constructions.