一緒に (issho ni) means “together” or “together with”. It is a JLPT N5 adverb that tells you two or more people do the same thing at the same time and place. Paired with ませんか or ましょう, it is the standard way to invite someone to do something with you.
一緒に行きませんか。 Three words, and you have invited someone out. That is why 一緒に is one of the first adverbs Japanese learners pick up.
What does 一緒に（いっしょに） mean?
一緒に describes a shared action. When you say 友だちと一緒に映画を見ました, you and your friend were both watching the movie, side by side.
Natural English renderings:
- together
- with (someone)
- along (with), as in “Can I come along?”
The word is made of the noun 一緒 (“together, the same”) plus the particle に, which turns it into an adverb that modifies the verb. You’ll see it written in kanji (一緒に) and just as often in hiragana (いっしょに), especially in casual messages and children’s books. Both are correct.
How to form 一緒に（いっしょに）
The partner is marked with と, never に or を: 友だちと一緒に, 家族と一緒に, 犬と一緒に.
When the partner is obvious, usually “me” or “us,” drop the whole と phrase and keep only 一緒に. 一緒に帰りましょう already means “Let’s go home together.” Adding 私と would sound heavy.
The に is required when you describe how an action is done. Without it, 一緒 is a noun, used in sentences like 一緒です (“we’re together / it’s the same”).
When is 一緒に（いっしょに） used?
The most common place is an invitation. 一緒に + verb + ませんか is a polite “Would you like to … together?”, and 一緒に + verb + ましょう is a friendly “Let’s …”. Learn both frames as fixed chunks.
It also shows up when you describe shared routines or living arrangements: living with your parents, studying with a classmate, walking the dog with your kids.
Finally, you use it to ask to join: 私も一緒に行ってもいいですか (“May I come along too?”). The も signals “me as well,” and 一緒に signals you’ll be part of the group.
一緒に is neutral in register. It works with です/ます and in casual speech (いっしょに行こう！).
一緒に（いっしょに） example sentences
一緒に昼ご飯を食べませんか。
Would you like to have lunch together?
明日、図書館で一緒に勉強しましょう。
Let's study together at the library tomorrow.
週末は家族と一緒に公園へ行きました。
I went to the park with my family on the weekend.
兄と一緒に住んでいます。
I live with my older brother.
友だちと一緒に日本の歌を歌いました。
I sang a Japanese song with my friend.
私も一緒に行ってもいいですか。
Can I come along too?
In the first two sentences, nobody says who “together” includes. The listener understands it means “with me.” That’s why 一緒に works on its own in invitations.
Nuance of 一緒に（いっしょに）
一緒に stresses that the action is shared: same time, same place, same activity. 友だちと行きました simply reports who you went with. 友だちと一緒に行きました puts a little more weight on the fact that you did it as a pair.
This matters most with verbs that already need a partner, such as 話す (talk), 会う (meet), 結婚する (marry), and けんかする (fight). With these verbs, と marks the other side of the action. Adding 一緒に changes the picture: 田中さんと話しました is “I talked with Tanaka,” but 田中さんと一緒に話しました sounds like you and Tanaka were both talking to someone else.
The noun 一緒 also means “the same” in casual speech: 私のかばんと一緒です (“It’s the same as my bag”). If you see 一緒 without に at the end of a sentence, check whether it means “same” rather than “together.”
Rule of thumb: if the verb needs two people to happen at all (marry, meet, fight, talk to each other), use と alone. If both people are doing the same thing side by side, 一緒に fits.
一緒に（いっしょに） vs と
For most everyday activities like eating, going, or studying, both と and と一緒に are correct. 一緒に just adds emphasis. For partner verbs, と alone is the right choice. The と particle lesson covers its other job, listing nouns (“A and B”).
Common mistakes with 一緒に（いっしょに）
The partner is always marked with と. に after the person makes it sound like you are going to your friend.
With 一緒に, it sounds like you and Tanaka both got married at the same time, to other people. Partner verbs take と alone.
Before a verb, 一緒 needs に to work as an adverb. Without it, the sentence is ungrammatical.
Is 一緒に（いっしょに） on the JLPT?
Yes. 一緒に is on the N5 vocabulary and grammar lists and appears constantly in listening dialogues where people make plans.
- Particle questions: the blank before 一緒に is almost always と.
- Listening: 一緒に〜ませんか signals an invitation. Listen for whether the other person accepts (いいですね) or declines (ちょっと…).
- Reading: be ready to read it in hiragana (いっしょに) as well as kanji.
Practice questions for 一緒に（いっしょに）
Show answer
一緒に晩ご飯を食べませんか。 — Would you like to have dinner together?
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昨日、妹と一緒に買い物に行きました。 — Yesterday I went shopping with my younger sister.
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先生と一緒に写真を撮りました。 — I took a photo together with my teacher.
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私も一緒に行ってもいいですか。 — Can I come along too?
Learning path for 一緒に（いっしょに）
Related grammar to review next
- と: marks the partner in と一緒に, and it’s the only choice for verbs like 会う and 結婚する.
- ませんか: the polite invitation ending that 一緒に pairs with most often.
- ましょう: turns 一緒に into an upbeat “let’s do it together.”
- も: gives you 私も一緒に, “me too, together.”
- で: used in みんなで and 二人で, which describe how many people are doing something together.
Learn 一緒に（いっしょに） with Hane
Hane has you practice 一緒に inside real invitations and replies, next to と, ませんか, and ましょう. Short daily sessions make “Want to … together?” come out automatically. Try Hane.
FAQ about 一緒に
What does 一緒に (issho ni) mean in Japanese?
一緒に (issho ni) means “together with”. It is JLPT N5 grammar. 一緒に describes a shared action. When you say 友だちと一緒に映画を見ました, you and your friend were both watching the movie, side by side.
How do you form 一緒に (issho ni)?
Person + と + 一緒に + Verb 一緒に + Verb The partner is marked with と, never に or を: 友だちと一緒に, 家族と一緒に, 犬と一緒に. When the partner is obvious, usually “me” or “us,” drop the whole と phrase and keep only 一緒に. 一緒に帰りましょう already means “Let's go home together.
What is the difference between 一緒に and と?
と + 一緒に: “together with”, stressing the shared action. と alone: “with”, marking the partner.
What is an example sentence with 一緒に (issho ni)?
一緒に昼ご飯を食べませんか。 — Would you like to have lunch together?