Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2014

Japan is a nation of tact, both socially and linguistically. While you can get away with blunt charm for a while, the more indirect you are, the more polite you become.

To sound polite without having to memorize a slew of new vocabulary, you can just stick “masen-ka” on the end of any proposition. It literally means “Won’t you… ?” but is best interpreted to mean “Why don’t we… ?”

SOMETHING TO EAT

• Issho ni ocha wo nomimasenka?
  Do you want to get a coffee together?
• Ra-men wo tabe-ni ikimasen-ka?
  Let’s go have ramen!
• Eiga no ato ni shokuji shimasen-ka?
  Let’s eat after the movie.

IN A BAR

• Sumimasen. Issho ni nomimasen-ka?
  Excuse me, would you like to drink together?
• Hoka no ba— ni ikimasen-ka?
  How about we go to another bar?

Lesson by Alpha Japanese Language Institute