ませんか
Meanings
- Won't you
- Would you not
- Why don't we
About this pattern
Explanation
ませんか is a polite, inviting way to suggest or invite someone to do something. It softens the request and expects agreement rather than giving a command. It commonly follows a verb in the ます-form to turn it into a tentative question. It can be used to propose activities, seek confirmation, or invite someone to join you. Examples: いっしょに映画を見ませんか? (Would you like to watch a movie together?) 食事に行きませんか。 (Shall we go out to eat?) 今日は忙しいですか。 is not the typical usage; instead, use 今日は忙しくないですか to ask if someone is busy. Note that this form is appropriate in informal to polite conversations, and slightly more formal than plain ませんか in casual settings.
Learn in context
Example sentences
Would you like to watch a movie together?
Shall we go hiking tomorrow?
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More N5 patterns
to be; is; equals; identifies as
View detailsto be; is; am; used to state something politely
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View detailsthis (near the speaker); this thing; this one
View detailsthat; that thing (near the listener); the thing referred to earlier
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