Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Together, with (someone/something), simultaneously, in company, in unison.
🎯 Primary Function
To indicate that an action, state, or event is being performed or experienced collectively or in the company of another person or group.
📋 Grammar Structure
一緒(に) + Verb (Plain or ます form: 勉強します, 食べました, 行こう)
[Noun/Situation] + は/が + 一緒に + [Verb] + i-adjective (e.g., 一緒にいるのは楽しい)
[Noun/Situation] + は/が + 一緒に + [Verb] + na-adjective (e.g., 一緒に仕事をするのは大変)
一緒(に) + Verb (Negative form: 食べません, 行きませんでした)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Acceptable, though 共に (tomo ni) might be preferred in highly formal written contexts.
Informal Situations
Very common and natural in all informal speech.
Written Language
Common in general writing, such as emails, letters, and simple narratives.
Spoken Language
Extremely common. Often shortened to just “一緒” (issho) in casual conversation or as a quick reply.
💡 Common Applications
Inviting or Suggesting an Action
Used frequently in invitations and suggestions, often paired with the 〜ませんか or 〜ましょう forms.
Example: 一緒にお茶を飲みませんか。 (Issho ni ocha o nomimasen ka?)
Stating a Shared Action or Situation
Used to describe actions performed in the company of others, emphasizing the shared nature of the activity.
Example: 私たちは毎日一緒に帰ります。 (Watashitachi wa mainichi issho ni kaerimasu.)
Indicating the Companion (Using the particle と)
When specifying who you are “with,” the particle と (to) always precedes 一緒に (issho ni).
Example: 友達と一緒に映画を見ました。 (Tomodachi to issho ni eiga o mimashita.)
Frequency
Very frequent. It is an essential adverb for daily communication.
Difficulty
Easy (N5)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
明日、一緒にお昼ご飯を食べましょう。
Furigana: あした、いっしょにおひるごはんをたべましょう。
Romaji: Ashita, issho ni ohirugohan o tabemashō.
English: Let’s eat lunch together tomorrow.
Example #2
家族と一緒に旅行に行きました。
Furigana: かぞくと いーしょに りょこうに いきました。
Romaji: Kazoku to issho ni ryokō ni ikimashita.
English: I went on a trip with my family.
Example #3
ここで私と一緒に待っていてください。
Furigana: ここで わたしと いーしょに まって いて ください。
Romaji: Koko de watashi to issho ni matte ite kudasai.
English: Please wait here with me.
Example #4
宿題を一緒に手伝ってくれてありがとう。
Furigana: しゅくだいを いーしょに てつだって くれて ありがとう。
Romaji: Shukudai o issho ni tetsudatte kurete arigatō.
English: Thank you for helping me with my homework together.
Example #5
みんなで一緒にこの歌を歌いましょう。
Furigana: みんなで いーしょに この うたを うたいましょう。
Romaji: Minna de issho ni kono uta o utaimashō.
English: Let’s sing this song together, everyone.
Example #6
彼はいつも彼女と一緒に帰ります。
Furigana: かれは いつも かのじょと いーしょに かえります。
Romaji: Kare wa itsumo kanojo to issho ni kaerimasu.
English: He always goes home with her.
Example #7
私は友達と一緒に買い物に行きました。
Furigana: わたしは ともだちと いーしょに かいものに いきました。
Romaji: Watashi wa tomodachi to issho ni kaimono ni ikimashita.
English: I went shopping with my friend.
Example #8
先生と一緒に日本語を勉強したいです。
Furigana: せんせいと いーしょに にほんごを べんきょうしたいです。
Romaji: Sensei to issho ni Nihongo o benkyō shitai desu.
English: I want to study Japanese with the teacher.
Example #9
もしよかったら、パーティーに一緒に行きませんか。
Furigana: もし よかったら、パーティーに いーしょに いきませんか。
Romaji: Moshi yokattara, pātī ni issho ni ikimasen ka.
English: If you’d like, would you like to go to the party together?
Example #10
彼女は何も言わず、ただ私と一緒に座っていました。
Furigana: かのじょは なにも いわず、ただ わたしと いーしょに すわっていました。
Romaji: Kanojo wa nani mo iwazu, tada watashi to issho ni suwatte imashita.
English: She didn’t say anything, but just sat there with me.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
The mandatory use of the particle と (to)
When stating the person/thing you are together with, the particle と (to) must be used directly before 一緒に. [Companion] + と + 一緒に + [Action].
Example: 先生と一緒にお茶を飲みます。 (Sensei to issho ni ocha o nomimasu.)
Using the particle で (de) for groups
When referring to a group already specified (e.g., みんな / minna – everyone), the particle で (de) can sometimes precede 一緒に to emphasize the collective action.
Example: みんなで一緒に頑張りましょう。 (Minna de issho ni ganbarimashō.)
Casual omission of ‘に’ (Issho)
In casual conversation, the ‘に’ is often dropped, and ‘一緒’ is used as a stand-alone reply meaning “Me too” or “Let’s go together.”
Example: A: 買い物に行く？ B: 一緒！ (A: Kaimono ni iku? B: Issho!)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 友達、一緒に行きました。 (Tomodachi, issho ni ikimashita.)
✅ 友達と一緒に行きました。 (Tomodachi to issho ni ikimashita.)
The particle ‘と’ is required before ‘一緒に’ to explicitly state “with whom.” Simply saying ‘友達一緒に’ is grammatically incorrect.
❌ 来週、一緒勉強しましょう。 (Raishū, issho benkyō shimashō.)
✅ 来週、一緒に勉強しましょう。 (Raishū, issho ni benkyō shimashō.)
While ‘一緒’ is used in very casual speech, the full adverbial form ‘一緒に’ is the standard and correct usage in writing and general conversation.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Standard polite level. It is suitable for use with people of all social ranks, provided the surrounding verb is in the polite ます form.
Social Situations: Crucial for all social interactions involving shared activities, such as making plans, inviting people, or recounting events.
Regional Variations: The meaning and use are standard across all regions of Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
一緒に (issho ni) vs. ともに (tomo ni)
共に is much more formal, literary, or used in ceremonial speech. 一緒に is the common, everyday word.
When to use: Use 共に for formal presentations, written documents, or abstract concepts (e.g., ‘working together for peace’). Use 一緒に for daily life and conversational contexts.
と一緒に (to issho ni) vs. と (to)
While ‘と’ alone means ‘with,’ adding ‘一緒に’ reinforces the sense of doing something in company and is often more polite or explicit.
When to use: Use ‘と’ for simple, quick statements. Use ‘と一緒に’ for invitations or when you want to emphasize the shared nature of the action.
📝 Conjugation Notes
As an adverb, 一緒に (issho ni) does not conjugate. The ‘に’ turns the ‘な-adjective stem’ (一緒) into an adverb, allowing it to modify verbs.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The word is pronounced い-っ-しょ-に (i-s-sho-ni). Pay attention to the small ‘っ’ (sokuon), which indicates a momentary pause before the ‘しょ’ sound. This pause creates the sharp double-s sound.
🧠 Memory Tips
Break down the kanji: 一 (ichi) means ‘one’ and 緒 (sho) means ‘cord’ or ‘beginning.’ Thinking of ‘joining together like one cord’ can help you remember the meaning ‘together.’
Other Grammar
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