Structure
Verb［おう］ + ではないか
Verb［おう］ + じゃないか
Details
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Formal
About 〜ようではないか
ようではないか is a construction that will primarily be used for making suggestions for mutual activities. This is a combination of either of the auxiliary verbs う or よう, ではない, and the sentence-ending particle, か. う and よう primarily express will or intent like 'shall' in English. Due to the negation following them, the literal translation will be similar to 'shall we not do (A)?'. For ease of translation, this structure can be remembered as simply 'let's do (A)', or 'why don't we do (A)'.
As with all structures that use う or よう, ようではないか will be attached to the end of a verb indicating the action which is being suggested.
Alternatively, the abbreviated form of じゃない may be used in place of ではない.
Despite this, ようではないか is primarily a formal grammar structure, so will most often use the unabbreviated version, or even more polite ようではありませんか construction.
Fun-fact
Occasionally, this grammar structure may be seen preceded by もらう. In these cases, it is usually challenging the listener to do something. This can be interpreted as 'why don't I have you do (A) then'.
- もっと綺麗に壁紙の張り替えができるのなら、張り替えてもらおうではないか。If you think that you're able to reapply the wallpaper better, then why don't I just get you to do it?
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乗せていってくれるって言っているんだから乗せて行ってもらおうではないか。They said that they will give us a ride, so why don't we have them give us a ride.
Synonyms
Examples
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彼の成功を信じようではないか。
Why don't we trust that he will be successful?
共に素晴らしい世界を創っていこうではないか。
Why don't we (go and) build a wonderful world together.
日本語を身につけるために頑張ろうではないか。
Why don't we try our best in order to learn Japanese.
この瀬戸物をちゃんと鑑定してもらおうではないか。
Why don't we get this porcelain appraised?
意見の相違があっても、話し合おうではないか。
Even if our opinions differ, why don't we discuss it?
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