New here? This is lesson 120 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Making plans in Japanese
Haruka finds Leo in the corner booth at Kissa Hotaru and asks if he is free this weekend.
Leo says Saturday works, then they try to pick a time and a place.
You will invite someone, suggest a day, and ask what time works.
Keep it polite. Check with people before you lock the plan.
By the end of this lesson
Invite someone, suggest a time, and ask what works.
- 今週末は空いていますか。Are you free this weekend?
- 一緒に___ませんか。Would you like to ___ together?
- ___はどうですか。How about ___?
- 何時がいいですか。What time works for you?
- 土曜日なら大丈夫です。Saturday works for me.
- どうしましょうか。What should we do?
Scene — a weekend plan
Friday afternoon light hits the kissa window. Haruka tucks her sketchbook under one arm and slides into the booth across from Leo.
Masako wipes the wooden counter. In the corner, Goro occupies two red seats, toast at his elbow, blend coffee still full.
Learn — invite and suggest
These six lines help you invite someone and suggest a time.
You will also say which day works, and ask what you should do.
今週末は空いていますか。
Are you free this weekend?
When to use it: Ask this before you invite someone out.
は marks this weekend as the topic of your question.
Say it: Keep the long う in 週末 for two beats.
一緒に___ませんか。
Would you like to ___ together?
When to use it: Use this to invite someone to do something with you.
ませんか turns a polite verb into an invitation, not a refusal.
Say it: Give the small っ in 一緒 a short stop.
___はどうですか。
How about ___?
When to use it: Suggest a day, a time, or a place with this.
は marks the option you are putting forward.
何時がいいですか。
What time works for you?
When to use it: Ask this when you need a time that works for them.
が marks the time that works for them; here, the time to meet.
土曜日なら大丈夫です。
Saturday works for me.
When to use it: Use this when Saturday is the day that works.
なら means if it is Saturday, that day is fine.
どうしましょうか。
What should we do?
When to use it: Ask this when you want to decide the plan together.
ましょうか asks the other person to choose with you.
Story — Saturday at the kissa
Haruka asks if Leo is free this weekend. Saturday looks good, but they still need to choose a place and time.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Haruka sets her sketchbook on the table and sits across from Leo.
Leoこんにちは。Hello.
Haruka今週末は空いていますか。Are you free this weekend?- Leoええと、土曜日なら大丈夫です。Um, Saturday works for me.
- Haruka一緒に出かけませんか。Would you like to go out together?
- Leoいいですね。どうしましょうか。That sounds good. What should we do?
- Haruka喫茶店はどうですか。How about the coffee shop?
- Leo turns toward Masako at the counter.
- Leo土曜日、喫茶店は開いていますか。Will the coffee shop be open on Saturday?
Masakoはい、開いていますよ。Yes, we'll be open.- Leo何時がいいですか。What time works for you?
- Haruka二時がいいです。Two o'clock works for me.
- Goro nods beside his untouched blend coffee and stays in the two seats.
Practice — pick the right plan
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick a reply.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your friend is free this weekend. Invite them to go out together.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
What time works for you?
何時____いいですか。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
今週末は空いていますか。
Are you free this weekend?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
どうしましょうか。
Build the line
Build the line
Are you free this weekend?
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Say Saturday is fine if Saturday is the day that works.
土曜日____大丈夫です。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your friend asks where to meet. Suggest the coffee shop.
True or false?
True or false?
This line asks if someone is free this weekend.
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
一緒に行きませんか。
Would you like to go together?
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Would you like to ___ together?
一緒_______ませんか。
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo in the booth with Haruka. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Haruka今週末は空いていますか。Are you free this weekend?
- Leo (you)Tell her Saturday works for you.
Tell her Saturday works for you.
土曜日なら大丈夫です。
Saturday works for me.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 今週末は空いていますか。 | Are you free this weekend? | |
| 一緒に___ませんか。 | Would you like to ___ together? | |
| ___はどうですか。 | How about ___? | |
| 何時がいいですか。 | What time works for you? | |
| 土曜日なら大丈夫です。 | Saturday works for me. | |
| どうしましょうか。 | What should we do? |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these weekend plans in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round keeps invite and suggest ready for Saturday.
Open Yak Cards