How to use ~よう (~you): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide

you

このかねかぞえようぜ。
Let’s count this money.

Category: ,

This grammar is all about making a suggestion or declaring an intention with your peoples. It’s the difference between asking nicely and sayin’ “We ride at dawn.” It’s got that raw, “let’s get it” energy. Forget that polite ~ましょう stuff for now; that’s for when you’re talkin’ to the suits. With your homies, ~よう is how you roll.

When you use the polite ~ましょう form, it’s like sending a formal, written invitation to a dinner party. It’s respectful, a little distant, and asks for an RSVP.

But when you use ~よう, you’re leaning in with your inner circle, spreadin’ the blueprint out on the table and sayin’, “Let’s go get what’s ours.” (おれたちのものをりにこうぜ). It’s a call to action, an assumption that everyone’s on board. It brings everyone together, tight-knit, like a real family or a hip-hop crew ready to drop a classic album. It’s got that “us against the world” flavor.


Grammar Conjugation Guide.
Task: Try to conjugate some different verbs to practice the rule.

Here’s the lowdown on how to cook up this grammar.

Verb GroupRuleExample VerbConjugationEnglish
Group 1 (u-verbs)Change the final u sound to an o sound, then add .こうLet’s write.
Group 2 (ru-verbs)Drop the final . Add よう.べるべようLet’s eat.
Group 3 (Irregular)Memorize ’em. No shortcuts, playa.する しようLet’s do it.
Group 3 (Irregular)ようLet’s come.

For real, it ain’t that deep. For Group 1 verbs, you take that last sound, like the ku in kaku, and you slide it over to the o-line, so ku becomes ko. Then just smack a on the end: かこう. For Group 2, it’s even easier. You see that at the end of a verb like たべる? Just snatch it off and replace it with よう. Boom, たべよう. And for the two irregular playas, する and くる, you just gotta know ’em. する flips to しよう, and くる becomes こよう. Easy money.


Example sentences with audio.
Task: Try to shadow at least 5 sentences perfectly.

Here are some examples straight from the block.

警察けいさつからげようとしてみよう。
Let’s try to escape from the police.

もっといいアリバイをかんがえよう。
Let’s think of a better alibi.

今回こんかいつかまらないようにしようぜ。
Let’s try not to get caught this time.

盗品とうひん公平こうへいけよう。
Let’s divide the stolen goods fairly.

仕事しごとあとたか寿司すしべようぜ。
Let’s eat some expensive sushi after the job.

この証拠しょうこかくそう。
Let’s hide this evidence.

すぐ弁護士べんごし電話でんわしよう。
Let’s call the lawyer right away.

ことわれない提案ていあんをしてやろう。
Let’s make him an offer he can’t refuse.

とりあえず無実むじつのふりをしよう。
For now, let’s pretend to be innocent.

今夜こんや縄張なわばりをひろげよう。
Tonight, let’s expand our territory.


Definitions of the new vocabulary.
Task: Try to guess what each word actually means.

Peep this new vocabulary to level up your game.

警察

[けいさつ] That’s Five-O, the po-po, the crew you stay duckin’ ’cause they always tryna jam you up.


捕まる

[つかまる] This is when your luck runs out and the feds slap the cuffs on you, ending your run on the streets for a minute.


盗品

[とうひん] That’s the hot merchandise, the loot you score from a lick that you gotta move on the low.


公平に

[こうへいに] This is when you split the score even-steven with the homies, ’cause you gotta keep it 100 with your squad.


証拠

[しょうこ] This is the heat the D.A. tries to use to put you away, so you better make sure you don’t leave none behind.


隠す

[かくす] This is what a G does with the strap or the stash when the block gets hot.


弁護士

[べんごし] This is your high-priced mouthpiece, the suit you call to talk that legal jive and get you out of a jam.


提案

[ていあん] That’s when the shot-caller lays out the plan for the next big score, and you gotta decide if you’re in or out.


断る

[ことわる] This is when a deal ain’t right and you gotta be a man and say “nah, I’m good.”


無実

[むじつ] That’s the “it wasn’t me” you tell the judge, stickin’ to the code even when they got you dead to rights.


縄張り

[なわばり] This is your turf, your block, the hood you and your set run and are willing to ride for.


Aight, that’s the lesson. Get this in your dome and start talkin’ like a boss.

Leave a comment