Production Rules:
| Plain Affirmative | Polite Affirmative | Plain Negative | Polite Negative | |
| Rule | [お-stem] [o-stem] | [い-stem] + ましょう [i-stem] + mashou |
Ichidan: [root] + まい [root] + mai Godan: [う-stem] + まい [u-stem] + mai |
[い-stem] + ますまい [i-stem] + masumai |
| Meaning | I will [do]; Let's [do] | I will not [do] | ||
Inflection Examples:
| Plain Affirmative | Polite Affirmative | Plain Negative | Polite Negative | |
| 食べる taberu (to eat) |
食べよう tabeyou | 食べましょう tabemashou |
食べまい tabemai | 食べますまい tabemasumai |
| 話す hanasu (to speak) |
話そう hanasou | 話しましょう hanashimashou |
話すまい hanasumai | 話しますまい hanashimasumai |
| 歩く aruku (to walk) |
歩こう arukou | 歩きましょう arukimashou |
歩くまい arukumai | 歩きますまい arukimasumai |
| 泳ぐ oyogu (to swim) |
泳ごう oyogou | 泳ぎましょう oyogimashou |
泳ぐまい oyogumai | 泳ぎますまい oyogimasumai |
| 呼ぶ yobu (to call) |
呼ぼう yobou | 呼びましょう yobimashou |
呼ぶまい yobumai | 呼びますまい yobimasumai |
| 飲む nomu (to drink) |
飲もう nomou | 飲みましょう nomimashou |
飲むまい nomumai | 飲みますまい nomimasumai |
| 死ぬ shinu (to die) |
死のう shinou | 死にましょう shinimashou |
死ぬまい shinumai | 死にますまい shinimasumai |
| 作る tsukuru (to make) |
作ろう tsukurou | 作りましょう tsukurimashou |
作るまい tsukurumai | 作りますまい tsukurimasumai |
| 待つ matsu (to wait) |
待とう matou | 待ちましょう machimashou |
待つまい matsumai | 待ちますまい machimasumai |
| 洗う arau (to wash) |
洗おう araou | 洗いましょう araimashou |
洗うまい araumai | 洗いますまい araimasumai |
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Usage Notes: The negative forms of the volitional are relatively rare, although they are occasionally heard. They convey a very strong intention not to do something, or intention to not let something happen. The use of this form as a presumptive ("probably [does]") is outmoded. The affirmative forms are used as either an expression of personal volition such as "I think I'll eat something", or "I will go now", or an inclusive command/suggestion of the "let's do it" variety. Usage Examples: |