Page 131 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

kyūkei-shimashō 休憩しましょう Let’s take a break
suwarimasu 座ります sit
mado 窓 window

ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY

doa ドア door

seki 席 seat
benchi ベンチ bench

GRAMMAR NOTE Verb–mashō = “Let’s Do Something”

V-mashō can replace V-masu and means “let’s do X” or “why don’t I do X”. It
is used to make a suggestion or offer to do something.

Yasumimashō. Let’s take a break.
Yasumimashō ka. Shall we take a break?

Note that the question form -mashō ka typically has a falling intonation. It is
more polite than -mashō alone because the addressee can say no to the question.
Verbs such as arimasu, dekimasu, and wakarimasu do not occur in the -mashō

form because they all indicate something beyond one’s control.
As for the doer of the action in this pattern, the speaker is always included,
but the addressee might not be included, depending on the context.

Watashi ga shimashō. Why don’t I do it?

Now, how do you respond to a suggestion or an offer made to you?
• When you’re responding to a suggestion:
To agree -Sō shimashō. Let’s do that.

To disagree -Iya, chotto…. No, just….
• When someone has offered to do something for you:

To accept it -Hai, onegai- Yes, please.
shimasu.
To turn it down -Ie, daijōbu desu. No thank you (I’m
fine.)

Warning: Make sure you do not confuse deshō “probably” and V-mashō.