Japanese Grammar Bank

HOW TO SAY TOGETHER IN JAPANESE

Expressing the concept of “together” is a vital part of any language.

You’ll need it to describe things you’ve done or to talk about future plans.

Today, you’ll find out everything you need to know about expressing together in Japanese.

TOGETHER WITH 一緒に

一緒に issho ni

This is the main thing to use for expressing “together” in Japanese, and it’s used all the time.

Let’s look at an example:

Ben to issho ni benkyou shita.

ベンと一緒に勉強した。

I studied with Ben

As you can see here, we put the person you did the activity with before と一緒に then put the verb for the thing you did after it.

PATTERN

Subject + (と)一緒に + Verb

Notice in the example sentences that you don’t need to put the と if you don’t mention a 3rd party’s name.

If you’re saying something directly to the listener – they’re the person you’ll be doing the activity with – then you don’t need it.

一緒に can be used in both casual and formal settings.

来週の試験のために一緒に勉強しました。Raishuu no shiken no tame ni issho ni benkyou shimashita.We studied together for the upcoming exam.
新しいレストランで一緒にランチを食べましょう。Atarashii resutoran de issho ni ranchi o tabemashou.Let’s have lunch together at the new restaurant.
昨晩、一緒に映画を楽しみました。Sakuban, issho ni eiga o tanoshimimashita.We enjoyed a movie together last night.
View More Examples:
来週、一緒に旅行するつもりです。Raishuu, issho ni ryokou suru tsumori desu.We’re going on a trip together next week.
今夜は一緒に夕食を作りましょう。Konya wa issho ni yuushoku o tsukurimashou.Let’s cook dinner together this evening.
彼らはギターを一緒に練習しました。Karera wa gitaa o issho ni renshuu shimashita.They practiced playing the guitar together.
一緒に海辺を散歩を歩きました。Issho ni umibe entotsu o arukimashita.We walked together along the beach.
土曜日に一緒に買い物に行きましょう。Doyoubi ni issho ni kaimono ni ikimashou.Let’s go shopping together on Saturday.
彼らはプロジェクトを一緒に完成しました。Karera wa purojekuto o issho ni kansei shimashita.They completed the project together.
公園で一緒にバーベキューをしましょう。Kouen de issho ni baabekyuu o shimashou.We’ll have a barbecue together in the park.

In casual conversation, you might find that this is shortened to just と, as the一緒に part is implied. For example:

tomodachi to kouen ni itta

友達と公園に行った

I went to the park with my friend

TOGETHER WITH 共に

共に tomoni

This is used similarly as 一緒に but is more formal and often used in writing. In daily conversation, I would stick to 一緒に.

共に課題に立ち向かいました。Tomonii kadai ni tachimukaimashita.We faced the challenges together.
人生の旅を共に歩きましょう。Jinsei no tabi o tomoni arukimashou.Let’s walk through life’s journey together.
共に新年を祝いました。Tomoni shinnen o iwaimashita.We celebrated the New Year together.
View More Examples:
彼らは共に障害を乗り越えました。Karera wa tomoni jiko o norikoimashita.They overcame obstacles together.
世界を共に探検しましょう。Sekai o tomoni tanken shimashou.Let’s explore the world together.
共に笑いと涙を流しました。Tomoni warai to namida o nagashimashita.We laughed and cried together.
彼らは共に音楽を奏でました。Karera wa tomoni ongaku o kanadashimashita.They played music together.
共に学び、成長しましょう。Tomoni manabishi to seichou shimashou.Let’s learn and grow together.
共に人生の課題に立ち向かいました。Tomonii jinsei no kadai ni tachimukaimashita.We faced the challenges of life together.
彼らは共に世界を旅行しました。Karera wa tomoni sekai o ryokoushimashita.They travelled the world together.

SUMMARY

  • 一緒に and 共に are both used to mean “together with”.
  • Put と to before them if a 3rd party’s name is mentioned.
  • You can use the structure (Name) + と+ verb if you want to be super casual to mean “I did (verb) with (name)”.
  • 共に is formal and mostly used in writing.
  • 一緒に is used in daily conversation, but can also be used formally.

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FAQs

How to say together with 一緒に?

This is the main thing to use for expressing “together” in Japanese, and it’s used all the time.

Subject + (と)一緒に + Verb

一緒に can be used in both casual and formal settings.

昨晩、一緒に映画を楽しみました。

Sakuban, issho ni eiga o tanoshimimashita.

We enjoyed a movie together last night.

How to express together with 共に?

This is used similarly as 一緒に but is more formal and often used in writing. In daily conversation, I would stick to 一緒に.

共に新年を祝いました。

Tomoni shinnen o iwaimashita.

We celebrated the New Year together.

How to express and in Japanese?

The particle と (to) is used to connect nouns or noun phrases that are being compared or are in a partnership.

This is probably the simplest way to convey “and” and one you’ll use all the time.

彼女は猫と犬を飼っている。

Kanojo wa neko to inu wo katte iru.

She has a cat and a dog as pets.

彼は自転車とバスで通勤している。

Kare wa jitensha to basu de tsuukin shite iru.

He commutes to work by bicycle and bus.

What is the Japanese sentence structure?

The most basic Japanese sentence structure is:

Subject + は + Object + です.

This sentence structure is used for generalised things or stating facts.

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