Components

Grammar detail: 〜ようではないか; 〜ようじゃないか

〜ようではないか; 〜ようじゃないか  let's do ~; why don't we ~
200 words
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Grammar Pattern
verb volitional form
+
ではないか
じゃないか
means
let's do ~; why don't we ~
ようではないか is an expression that is used to make a suggestion for, or to encourage 'all' to do a particular action or to take part in a mutual activity. It is often used when the speaker is addressing a large group of people. As such, it is more likely to be encountered in workplaces or at events in contexts where a speaker is trying to encourage a behavior, elicit group action, etc.
In its casual form - 'ではないか/じゃないか', this expression is more common in male speech. Women would be more likely to opt for the polite form (
ていねいご
丁寧語
), using 'ではありませんか'. Men may also use the polite form depending on the context of situation.
例文: Example Sentences
この
ろんぎ
論議
やめようない
Let's put a stop to this discussion.
もう
しょうぶ
勝負
まった
おとこ
らしく
ばつ
けよ
ない
The jig is up; let's face the music like men.
ここら
じっぷん
10分
きゅうけい
休憩
しよ
じゃない
Let's take a 10-minute break.
げんじつ
現実
ちょくし
直視
しよ
じゃない
Let's face the facts!
ようではないか is not an everyday expression. In regular conversations with friends, colleagues, relatives, etc., the standard volitional form would be used and よ would perhaps be added to the end for emphasis.
今食事しているから後で話し合いましょうよ。Where eating now, so let's discuss it after.
楽しそうだから行ってみようよ。It sounds fun, so let's just go and see!
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Kanji used in this grammar

チョウ   テイ    a (city) block; counter for long/narrow things, blocks of tofu   
ネイ    preferable, rather; peaceful, quiet   
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ゴ   かた to talk, relate   かたらう to talk together, chat   
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レイ   example   たとえる to illustrate, to compare   たとえば for example   
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ブン   モン    literature   ふみ a letter   
コン   キン   いま now   
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ショク   ジキ    food   たべる to eat   く to eat   
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ジ   ズ   こと thing; matter   
ゴ   コウ   のち    あと afterwards   うし behind   おくれる be late   
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ワ   はな to talk   はなし talking   
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ゴウ   ガッ   カッ   あ to fit, come together   あわす to match   あわせる to unite, join   
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ガク   ラク    music   たのしい happy, pleasant   たのしむ to be happy   
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コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
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ロン    thesis, argument, discussion   
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ギ    deliberation   
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ショウ   か to win   まさ to be better than   
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フ   まかす to defeat   まける to be defeated   お to carry (on one's back)   
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ケツ   きめる to decide   きまる to be decided   
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ダン   ナン   おとこ male, man   
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バツ   バチ    punishment, penalty   
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ジュ   うける to receive, to accept   うかる to pass (an exam)    
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ブン   ブ   フン   わける to divide, to distinguish   わかる to understand   わかれる to be divided   わかつ to share, distribute   
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キュウ   やす to rest   やすまる to be rested   やすめる to suspend (use etc.)   
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ケイ   いこ to relax   いこ relaxation   
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ゲン    present   あらわれる to appear   あらわ to show   
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ジツ    fruit; reality   み fruit, nut   みの to bear fruit   
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チョク   ジキ    honest; direct   なお to correct   なお to be cured   ただちに immediately   
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シ    seeing   
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