Invite someone to see a film, suggest a time and respond tactfully if a day does not work.

The idea

Verb stem plus ませんか makes a polite invitation: 見ませんか means 'would you like to see it?' 何時（なんじ） asks what time; 二時（にじ） is two o'clock. ちょっと…… can gently signal that the proposed day is inconvenient without spelling out a reason.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
土曜日どようびに映画えいがを見みませんか。Would you like to see a film on Saturday?
二時にじはどうですか。How about two o'clock?
すみません、土曜日どようびはちょっと……。Sorry, Saturday is a bit difficult…
では、日曜日にちようびはどうですか。Then how about Sunday?

Examples

  • 土曜日どようびに映画えいがを見みませんか。Would you like to see a film on Saturday?
  • いいですね。何時なんじに行いきますか。That sounds good. What time shall we go?
  • 二時にじはどうですか。How about two o'clock?
  • はい、二時にじに行いきましょう。Yes, let's go at two.
  • すみません、土曜日どようびはちょっと……。Sorry, Saturday is a bit difficult…
  • では、日曜日にちようびはどうですか。Then how about Sunday?
  • はい、日曜日にちようびは大丈夫だいじょうぶです。Yes, Sunday works for me.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Although ませんか has a negative form, here it is an invitation. A hesitant ちょっと…… is not a yes; offer another day without pressure.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose and fill the blank: さそいます。「映画えいがを見み＿。」（ませんか／ました）

    Show answer or example answer

    ませんか

    Verb stem plus ませんか makes a polite invitation: 見ませんか means 'would you like to see it?'

  2. Choose and fill the blank: 「＿に行いきますか。」「二時にじです。」（なんじ／どこ）

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    なんじ

    何時（なんじ） asks what time; 二時（にじ） is two o'clock.

  3. Choose and fill the blank: 「すみません、土曜日どようびは＿……。」（ちょっと／いつ）

    Show answer or example answer

    ちょっと

    ちょっと…… can gently signal that the proposed day is inconvenient without spelling out a reason.

Use it today

Invite someone to an activity, suggest a time and propose another day if needed.