〜よう: You use this to say you want something to happen. It means 'so that' or 'in order to'. This way of saying it is a bit more formal.

〜よう

You use this to say you want something to happen. It means 'so that' or 'in order to'. This way of saying it is a bit more formal.

N3 KMT5FormalStandardCompound ParticleMixedAdvanced Purpose And GoalsGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + ようPrimary

Verb [ない-form] + よう

You use this to say you want something to happen. It means 'so that' or 'in order to'. This way of saying it is a bit more formal.

世界中の人々が平和に暮らせるよう、私たちは努力すべきだ。

We should strive so that people all over the world can live in peace.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationPolitics & Law Core Concepts

風邪をひかないよう、暖かくして寝てください。

Please dress warmly when you sleep so that you don't catch a cold.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceRequestMedicine & Health Daily Life

会議に遅れないよう、早めに家を出た。

I left home early so that I wouldn't be late for the meeting.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeWork & Career Daily Life

どうか、試験に合格しますよう。

Please, I pray that I (or you) will pass the exam.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDesireEducation

システムが正常に作動するよう、定期的なメンテナンスが欠かせません。

Regular maintenance is essential so that the system operates normally.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceNecessityTechnology Business & Finance

Using 〜よう alone makes your words sound more formal. It is like speaking in a serious way. People use it in writing or speeches. In daily talk, 〜ように is more common.

This is like saying 'so that' or 'in order to'. It is a bit more formal than '〜ように'. You use it for things you want to happen but cannot fully control. For actions you can control, you use '〜ために'.

Don't use this when you want to say "to become able to speak Japanese". You must say "日本語が話せるようになる" not "話せるようなる".

Contrasts with(1)

〜ない？

This is a casual way to ask someone to do something. It is like saying 'Why don't we...?' or 'Do you want to...?'

More formal alternatives(3)

〜よっか

This is a short way to say "Shall we?" or "How about we?" You use it with friends to suggest doing something together.

〜ようぜ

This is a strong way to say "Let's do something." Men often use it. It is like saying "Come on, let's go!"

〜（よ）うぜ

This is a strong way to say "Let's do something together." Men often use it with friends. It shows you really want to do it.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜ましょう

You use this to suggest doing something together. It is like saying 'Let's...' in English.

〜（よ）うじゃないか

This phrase means "Let's do something together." It is a strong way to ask others to join you. You use it to suggest an action.

Dialect / slang variants(2)

〜べ

This word means 'let's do something' or 'I will do something'. People in Eastern Japan use it a lot.

〜（よ）うぜ

This is a strong way to say "Let's do something together." Men often use it with friends. It shows you really want to do it.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

〜れる / 〜られる (potential form)

This grammar shows you can do something. It means 'can' or 'to be able to'.

〜ようにする

This means you try to do something. You make an effort to do it. Or you try not to do something.

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Dictionary

〜よう

You use this to say you want something to happen. It means 'so that' or 'in order to'. This way of saying it is a bit more formal.

N3 KMT5FormalStandardCompound ParticleMixedAdvanced Purpose And GoalsGrammar

Verb [dictionary form] + ようPrimary

Verb [ない-form] + よう

You use this to say you want something to happen. It means 'so that' or 'in order to'. This way of saying it is a bit more formal.

世界中の人々が平和に暮らせるよう、私たちは努力すべきだ。

We should strive so that people all over the world can live in peace.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceObligationPolitics & Law Core Concepts

風邪をひかないよう、暖かくして寝てください。

Please dress warmly when you sleep so that you don't catch a cold.

PoliteNon PastNegativeMid SentenceRequestMedicine & Health Daily Life

会議に遅れないよう、早めに家を出た。

I left home early so that I wouldn't be late for the meeting.

NeutralPastNegativeMid SentenceDeclarativeWork & Career Daily Life

どうか、試験に合格しますよう。

Please, I pray that I (or you) will pass the exam.

PoliteNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingDesireEducation

システムが正常に作動するよう、定期的なメンテナンスが欠かせません。

Regular maintenance is essential so that the system operates normally.

FormalNon PastAffirmativeMid SentenceNecessityTechnology Business & Finance

Using 〜よう alone makes your words sound more formal. It is like speaking in a serious way. People use it in writing or speeches. In daily talk, 〜ように is more common.

Don't use this when you want to say "to become able to speak Japanese". You must say "日本語が話せるようになる" not "話せるようなる".

Contrasts with(1)

〜ない？

This is a casual way to ask someone to do something. It is like saying 'Why don't we...?' or 'Do you want to...?'

More formal alternatives(3)

〜よっか

This is a short way to say "Shall we?" or "How about we?" You use it with friends to suggest doing something together.

〜ようぜ

This is a strong way to say "Let's do something." Men often use it. It is like saying "Come on, let's go!"

〜（よ）うぜ

This is a strong way to say "Let's do something together." Men often use it with friends. It shows you really want to do it.

Less formal alternatives(2)

〜ましょう

You use this to suggest doing something together. It is like saying 'Let's...' in English.

〜（よ）うじゃないか

This phrase means "Let's do something together." It is a strong way to ask others to join you. You use it to suggest an action.

Dialect / slang variants(2)

〜べ

This word means 'let's do something' or 'I will do something'. People in Eastern Japan use it a lot.

〜（よ）うぜ

This is a strong way to say "Let's do something together." Men often use it with friends. It shows you really want to do it.

辞書形

This is the basic form of a verb. It is what you find in a dictionary. You use it to make other verb forms.

ない形

This is how you make a verb negative. It means "do not" or "will not." It is the casual way to say 〜ません.

〜れる / 〜られる (potential form)

This grammar shows you can do something. It means 'can' or 'to be able to'.

〜ようにする

This means you try to do something. You make an effort to do it. Or you try not to do something.

Track your mastery

Kumi's KMT system tracks your mastery across kanji, vocabulary, grammar, and reading. Create a free account to use it on 220,000+ concepts.

〜よう

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with8

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(3)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Dialect / slang variants(2)

Prerequisites4

Track your mastery

〜よう

Patterns2

Meaning

Examples5

Nuance1

Contrasts1

Restrictions1

Compare with8

Contrasts with(1)

More formal alternatives(3)

Less formal alternatives(2)

Dialect / slang variants(2)

Prerequisites4

Track your mastery