[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]
1.Urges a course of action
もうだいぶ歩いたから、この辺でちょっと休もうよ。
Mō daibu aruita kara, kono hen de chotto tasumou yo.
Let’s take a break about here, gyus. We’re already walked quite a bit.
あの展覧会へ行ってみましょうよ。
Ano tenran-kai e itte mimashō yo.
Come on, let’s go to that exhibition.
2. Indicates a request (somewhat stronger than ne, #54, no. 3)
この仕事はあなたしかできませんから、ぜひお願いしますよ。
Kono shigoto wa anata shika dekimasen kara, zehi onegai shimasu yo.
You’re the only one who can handle this job, so I really want you to take it on.
私の家にも来てくださいよ。
Watashi no ie ni mo kite kudasai yo.
Come to my house, too.
3. Indicates a statement of certainty
いえ、恵子は小学校を去年出ましたから、もう13歳ですよ。
Ie, Keiko wa shōgakkō o kyonen demashita kara, mō jūsan-sai desu yo.
No, Keiko graduated from elementary school last year, so she’s already thirteen years old, you see.
今日は金曜日ですよ。
Kyō wa kin’yōbi desu yo.
Today is Friday, you know. (Stated, for example, after someone has claimed otherwise.)
4. Indicates scolding or comtempt.
あの人は仕事ができないわよ。
Ano hito wa shigoto ga dekinai wa yo.
He just can’t do the work!
Note: Here, the combination of wa yo indicates that a woman is speaking. See #56.
谷さん、そんな悪いことをしてはいけませんよ。
Tani-san, sonna warui koto o shite wa ikemasen yo.
Tani, you shouldn’t do anything [bad] like that!
– Source: All about particles – A handbook of Japanese function words –
