Learn How to Express ‘Let’s Go’ in Japanese – A Comprehensive Guide

Hi, I am Shingo SATO, a native speaker with more than 10 years of experience teaching Japanese.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to express ‘let’s go’ in Japanese, then you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn the different ways to say ‘let’s go’ in Japanese. I’ll also provide you with pronunciation tips and a few fun and informative Japanese phrases related to ‘let’s go’.

Expressing ‘Let’s Go’ in Japanese

Expressing ‘let’s go’ in Japanese is very simple and straightforward. The most common way to say ‘let’s go’ in Japanese is 「行こう」( ikoo). This phrase can be used in almost any situation when you want to express the intent of ‘let’s go’, in other words, when you want to suggest or tell someone to do something together . However, there is a condition that it must be in a close relationship, such as family or friends. Use 「行きましょう」( ikimashoo) for superiors and people you are not very close to.

How to Use ‘Let’s Go’ in a Sentence

Expressing ‘let’s go’ in a sentence is very easy. All you need to do is add the phrase 「行こう」 (ikoo) or「行きましょう」（ikimashoo） after the phrase that describes the activity you want to do. For example, if you want to go shopping, you can say:

• 買い物に行こう。 (Kaimono ni ikoo.) or
• 買い物に行きましょう。 (Kaimono ni ikoo.)

Both of the above can be translated as “Let’s go shopping”.

Pronunciation Tips for Expressing ‘Let’s Go’ in Japanese

When expressing ‘let’s go’ in Japanese, it’s important to pay attention to the pronunciation. 

The intonation of both “let’s go” and “let’s go” fall at the end. Please listen to my audio recording.

行こう（ikoo）

行きましょう（ikimashoo）

In Indonesia, where I teach Japanese, my students tend to raise the pitch at the end of 「行こう」（ikoo）. , so it sounds like a question. I don’t think this will cause any misunderstandings in communication, but it is good to keep in mind if you want to acquire a higher level of Japanese.

Resources for Learning in What Situations ‘Let’s Go’ in Japanese is Used

If you’re looking for more resources to help you understand in what situations ‘let’s go’ in Japanese is used, here are some great options:

Audio Files

In the official website of Irodori , a Japanese language textbook, there are audio files.

And in the following audio files you can listen to the conversations in which 「行きましょう」（ikimashoo）is used. You will not get a link for each audio file, so please visit this page and then play each audio file.

• X_[12-14]_kiku1.mp3
• X_[12-15]_kiku2.mp3
• X_[12-16]_kiku3.mp3

In these conversations, they are inviting their colleagues to an activity or event.

Videos

You can also watch videos in which 「行きましょう」（ikimashoo）is used at the following links.

• Irodori Online Course （Registration required）
• Marugoto Plus（No registration required）

For more information on Irodori and Marugoto, please read the following posts.

A Comprehensive Review of Irodori : Japanese for Life in Japan by The Japan Foundation

A Comprehensive Review of Marugoto Japanese Language and Culture

Fun and Informative Japanese Phrases Related to ‘Let’s Go’

Here are some fun and informative Japanese phrases related to ‘let’s go’:

• 「行くぞ」 (iku zo) – This phrase is often used when you want to encourage someone to take action. 
• 「行ってみよう」 (itte miyoo) – This phrase is often used when you want to suggest an activity to someone.   　
• 「行こうぜ」 (ikoo ze) – This phrase is often used when you want to show enthusiasm for an activity. 
• 「行くよ」 (iku yo) – This phrase is often used when you want to show excitement for an activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are frequently asked questions about ‘let’s go’ in Japanese.

Conclusion

I hope this guide has been helpful in teaching you how to express ‘let’s go’ in Japanese. Remember to pay attention to the following:

• Who you are talking to
• The pronunciation

And use the resources mentioned in this guide to help you in what situations ‘let’s go’ in Japanese is used. If you are used to use「行こう」（ikoo）or「行きましょう」（ikimashoo）, you can try using fun and informative Japanese phrases related to ‘let’s go’. 

With practice and dedication, you’ll be able to express ‘let’s go’ in Japanese like a native Japanese speaker!