2HONGO

Volitional Form

Learn how to form and use the Volitional form for suggestions and expressing intentions.

Introduction to the Volitional Form

The Volitional Form is used primarily for casual suggestions (like 'Let's...') and to express what the speaker is planning or intending to do.

Volitional Form Conjugation
The rules for forming the Volitional form vary by verb group.
For Group I verbs, change the final ~u sound to its corresponding ~o sound and add う (creating a long vowel).
Dictionary FormVolitional Form
買うかう
買おうかおう
待つまつ
待とうまとう
帰るかえる
帰ろうかえろう
飲むのむ
飲もうのもう
死ぬしぬ
死のうしのう
遊ぶあそぶ
遊ぼうあそぼう
書くかく
書こうかこう
泳ぐおよぐ
泳ごうおよごう
話すはなす
話そうはなそう
行くいく
行こういこう

Conjugation Examples

  • もう11時だから、寝よう。

    It's already 11 o'clock, so let's sleep.

  • 仕事が終わってから、飲みに行こうよ。

    Since work is over, let's go for a drink.

  • 手伝おうか。

    Shall I help you?
Suggestions and Invitations
In casual speech, the Volitional form is used like '~mashou' (let's do...) or '~mashou ka' (shall I/we...).

Examples

  • もう11時だから、寝よう。

    It's already 11 o'clock, so let's sleep.

  • 仕事が終わってから、飲みに行こうよ。

    Since work is over, let's go for a drink.

  • 手伝おうか。

    Shall I help you?
Expressing Intention (~to omoimasu)
Used when the speaker has decided to do something. The form '~yo to omoimasu' is used for decisions made on the spot.

Examples

  • 今日、会社を休もうと思います。

    I think I'll take a day off from work today.

  • もう遅いので、そろそろ帰ろうと思います。

    Since it's already late, I think I'll head home soon.
Continuous Intention (~to omotte imasu)
Used when the speaker has been holding a certain intention for some time. It suggests a more stable or long-term plan.

Difference between forms

  • 1Use the Volitional form alone for immediate suggestions.
  • 2'~to omoimasu' and '~to omotte imasu' both express determination, but the latter suggests the intention has been held for a while.

Examples

  • 明日病院へ行こうと思っています。

    I'm thinking of going to the hospital tomorrow.

  • 今度、長江下りをしようと思っています。

    I'm planning to go down the Yangtze River next time.

  • その問題について、もう少し考えようと思っています。

    I'm thinking about that problem a bit more.
Verb Volitional Form | 2hongo