The Volitional Form in Japanese

The volitional form (意志形, ishikei) in Japanese expresses the speaker's intention to do something or makes a suggestion or invitation to others to join in an action, equivalent to English 'let's do...' or 'shall we do...'. The conjugation depends on the verb group. For Group 1 (u-verbs), you change the final 'u' vowel to 'ō' (long 'o'). For example, 'iku' (to go) becomes 'ikō' (let's go), and 'yomu' becomes 'yomō'. For Group 2 (ru-verbs), you replace 'ru' with 'yō', so 'taberu' becomes 'tabeyō'. The irregular verb 'suru' becomes 'shiyō', and 'kuru' becomes 'koyō'.

The polite volitional form adds '-mashō' to the verb stem, producing forms like 'ikimashō' (let's go, polite) and 'tabemashō' (let's eat, polite). The volitional form can also express personal determination or resolution when used with the first person, as in 'Ganbarō' (I'll do my best / Let's do our best). When combined with the particle 'to' and the verb 'suru', it creates the grammar pattern 'V-yō to suru', meaning 'to try to do something' or 'to be about to do something'. Understanding this form is essential for making plans and proposals in Japanese.