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ませんか (masenka) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Would You Like To?

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'ませんか (masenka) Meaning Japanese Grammar -  Would You Like To?'

Anna Baffa Volpe

The 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 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:

Ichidan Verb without る+ませんか
食べる
食べ
食べ
食べませんか

Why don't you eat it?

With the Godan verbs we have the form:

Godan Verb in B2 or Base ending in い+ませんか
行く
行きませんか

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

()(よう)()()()、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。()(よう)()()(ごと)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(かえ)りませんか。

Would you like to come back with me?

ちえ子

はい。

Yes.

いっしょに(ひる)ごはんを()べませんか。

Would you like to have lunch together?

(すこ)(やす)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:

(じん)(せい)って(みじか)いと(おも)いませんか?

Don't you think that life is short?

どうにか(かい)(ぜん)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()きましたが、()(けん)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()べに()きませんか。

Won't you go eat ramen with me?

(しゅう)(まつ)(いっ)(しょ)(えい)()()ませんか。

Would you like to watch a movie together this weekend?

ちょっと(さん)()しませんか。

Why don't we go for a short walk?