宴会を開いて、勝利を祝おうではないか。
Let us throw a banquet and celebrate the victory.
Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.
Today’s lesson is on ～ようではないか (or its more casual street cousin ～じゃないか).
The Lowdown on ～ようではないか
Listen up. In the streets, you don’t just ask people to do things—you rally the crew. You make a proclamation. ～ようではないか is that “Let us…” vibe. It’s a strong, formal invitation or a call to action. Think of it like when a boss in a movie stands up at the round table and tells the family it’s time to take over the city.
It’s got that “Let’s do this together” energy, but it’s heavy. You wouldn’t use this to ask a homie for a fry. You use this when you’re tryna start a movement, pull off a heist, or tell the whole squad to level up. It’s authoritative, persuasive, and sounds like you got a cigar in one hand and a plan in the other.
Think of ～ようではないか like the Opening Monologue of a Heist Movie.
You know that scene where the leader spreads the blueprints across the table, the lights are low, and he says, “Tonight, we take what’s ours”? That’s exactly what this grammar is. It’s not a question; it’s the blueprint itself. You’re setting the stage and inviting the crew to step into greatness with you.
Read the table below then use it to conjugate some words you know.
Check how we flip the verbs before we get to work.
| Verb Type | Rule | Example | Translation |
| Group 1 (U) | Change ~u to ~o + う | 話そうではないか | Let us speak/negotiate |
| Group 2 (Ru) | Remove ~ru, add ~よう | 決めようではないか | Let us decide |
| Irregular | Suru -> Shiyo / Kuru -> Koyou | 復讐しようではないか | Let us take revenge |
To rock this, you just take the Volitional Form (the “let’s” form) of the verb and slap ではないか (or じゃないか if you’re feeling slightly more casual) on the end. It’s about taking that “let’s” energy and making it sound like a grand manifesto. You’re basically turning a suggestion into a heavy-duty proposal that nobody’s supposed to say no to.
Read and master the example sentences below.
最後に高い酒で乾杯しようではないか。
Let us finally toast with some expensive liquor.
死ぬ気でこのシマを守ろうではないか。
Let us protect this turf with our very lives.
正義という名の復讐を果たそうではないか。
Let us carry out revenge in the name of “justice.”
暗闇の中で、静かに作戦を実行しようではないか。
Let us execute the mission quietly in the dark.
誰もが恐れる最強のチームを作ろうではないか。
Let us build the strongest team that everyone fears.
密輸のルートをさらに拡大しようではないか。
Let us expand the smuggling routes even further.
伝説のギャングとして、名を残そうではないか。
Let us leave our names behind as legendary gangsters.
最高の逃走経路を考えようではないか。
Let us devise the ultimate getaway route.
真のボスが誰か、奴らに教えてやろうではないか。
Let us show them who the real boss is.
裏切り者には、地獄を見せてやろうではないか。
Let us show the snitch what hell looks like.
Stay dangerous.
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