Japanese - Making Plans

___は空いていますか？

___ wa aite imasu ka?

Are you free ___?

Meaning: Are you free ___?

When to use: Put a time or date before the blank plus は to ask if someone is available (polite).

Tip: Don’t put the time after the verb; the time should come before は (e.g., 「土曜日は…」).

一緒に___ませんか？

Issho ni ___masen ka?

Do you want to ___?

Meaning: Do you want to ___ together?

When to use: Use a verb stem before the blank (polite invitation). For activity nouns, add し as needed.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the plain verb instead of the stem＋ませんか (casual) — stick with the polite stem form here.

___はどうですか？

___ wa dō desu ka?

How about ___?

Meaning: How about ___?

When to use: Put a suggestion (time, place, or activity) before the blank plus は to offer an idea politely.

待ち合わせは___にしましょう。

Machiawase wa ___ ni shimashō.

Let's meet at ___.

Meaning: Let’s meet at ___.

When to use: Use for suggesting a meeting time or place; place/time goes in the blank. For place-only, 「で会いましょう」 is also natural.

Tip: Confusing に and で: use に for a time or specific spot (e.g., ‘6時に’), and で if you only want to say 'at the café' informally with 会う.

何時がいいですか？

Nanji ga ii desu ka?

What time works for you?

Meaning: What time works for you?

When to use: Use 何時 when asking about a clock time (polite). For days use いつ or 何曜日.

___なら大丈夫です。

___ nara daijōbu desu.

I can do ___.

Meaning: I can do ___.

When to use: Put a time, date, or option before the blank. なら marks the conditional that works for you.

Tip: Don’t drop なら when you mean 'If it's ___, it's okay'; without なら it can sound less conditional.

行けません

Ikemasen.

I can't make it.

Meaning: I can’t make it.

When to use: Use when you cannot attend a plan or event. Preface with すみません for a softer decline.

Tip: Saying nothing or giving a vague answer can sound rude; add a brief apology (すみません／残念ですが).

代わりに___にしませんか？

Kawari ni ___ ni shimasen ka?

Can we do ___ instead?

Meaning: Can we do ___ instead?

When to use: Put the alternative time, place, or plan before the blank. Use this to suggest another option politely.

___にしましょう。

___ ni shimashō.

Let's plan for ___.

Meaning: Let’s plan for ___.

When to use: Use to confirm a chosen time, date, place, or option. Put the detail before the blank.

どうしましょうか。

Dō shimashō ka.

What should we do?

Meaning: What should we do?

When to use: Use when deciding on plans or the next action; polite. With friends you might use 「どうする？」.

どこで会いましょうか。

Doko de aimashō ka.

Where should we meet?

Meaning: Where should we meet?

When to use: Use when deciding the meeting place; polite. Friends may say 「どこで会う？」.

何曜日がいいですか。

Nan-yōbi ga ii desu ka.

What day is best for you?

Meaning: What day is best for you?

When to use: Use 何曜日がいいですか when asking which weekday is best (polite).

ほかに誰が来ますか。

Hoka ni dare ga kimasu ka.

Who else is coming?

Meaning: Who else is coming?

When to use: Use to ask about other attendees or participants politely.