〜ませんか (masen ka)

JLPT N5

A polite, warm way to invite someone to do something.

Meaning

“Won't you ~? / Would you like to ~?” A friendly invitation.

Formation

• Verb (ます-stem) + ませんか

Examples

一緒に映画を見ませんか。

Issho ni eiga o mimasen ka. — Won't you watch a movie with me?

お茶を飲みませんか。

Ocha o nomimasen ka. — Would you like to have some tea?

週末、出かけませんか。

Shūmatsu, dekakemasen ka. — Would you like to go out this weekend?

少し休みませんか。

Sukoshi yasumimasen ka. — Shall we take a little break?

How it works

Although it's literally a negative question (“won't you ~?”), it works as a soft, considerate invitation — it leaves the other person room to decline. That makes it gentler than 〜ましょう, which assumes agreement.

Accept with ええ、〜ましょう.

Compared with similar expressions

• 〜ませんか — soft invitation. “Won't you ~?” (room to say no)

• 〜ましょう — “let's ~” (assumes you'll both do it)

• 〜ましょうか — “shall I / shall we ~?”

Common mistakes

• Attach to the ます-stem: 行きます → 行きませんか

• It's an invitation, not a real negative question — tone makes that clear.

Related grammar

• 〜ましょう — let's

• 〜ましょうか — shall I / we

• 〜たい — want to