〜よ
I tell you / you know (assertion)
よ is a sentence-ending particle you add when you tell the listener something they probably don't know yet. It works like "you know" or "I'm telling you" in English.
How to make it
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Polite sentence + よ | おいしいです → おいしいですよ |
| Casual verb or い-adjective + よ | 行く → 行くよ、高い → 高いよ |
| Casual noun or な-adjective + だよ | 雨 → 雨だよ、しずか → しずかだよ |
| Invitation 〜ましょう + よ | 行きましょう → 行きましょうよ |
Meaning and examples
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1. Giving new information
You tell the listener a fact you think they don't know. It adds a feeling of "let me tell you".
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このパンはおいしいですよ。
このパンはおいしいですよ。
kono pan wa oishii desu yo.
This bread is tasty, you know.
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あの店は十時まであいていますよ。
あのみせはじゅうじまであいていますよ。
ano mise wa juuji made aite imasu yo.
That shop is open until ten, you know.
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電車はもう出ましたよ。
でんしゃはもうでましたよ。
densha wa mou demashita yo.
The train has already left.
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あした、雨だよ。
あした、あめだよ。
ashita, ame da yo.
It's going to rain tomorrow, you know.
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2. Warnings and advice
よ makes a warning or a piece of advice sound stronger and more direct.
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そこはあぶないですよ。
そこはあぶないですよ。
soko wa abunai desu yo.
It's dangerous there!
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かさをもって行ったほうがいいですよ。
かさをもっていったほうがいいですよ。
kasa o motte itta hou ga ii desu yo.
You should take an umbrella.
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3. Pushing an invitation
After 〜ましょう, よ adds a friendly push, like "come on, let's...".
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いっしょに行きましょうよ。
いっしょにいきましょうよ。
issho ni ikimashou yo.
Come on, let's go together.
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Nuance
よ is very common, but it can sound pushy if you use it too much, especially with teachers or bosses. Use it when the listener really doesn't know the information. If you think the listener already knows and you want them to agree, use ね instead. In casual speech, nouns and な-adjectives need だ before よ, but い-adjectives never do.
Compared with
Common mistakes
Wrongこのケーキ、おいしいだよ。
Rightこのケーキ、おいしいよ。
い-adjectives take よ directly, with no だ.
Wrongあしたは休みよです。
Rightあしたは休みですよ。
よ always goes at the very end of the sentence, after です.
Wrong（先生に）はい、わかりましたよ。
Rightはい、わかりました。
When you simply accept what a teacher says, よ can sound like you are annoyed, so leave it off.
Practice
JLPT style: choose the best answer for （ ）.
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1A「この本、おもしろいですか。」B「ええ、とてもおもしろいです（ ）。」
B is telling A new information, so よ fits. か would make it a question, and を and で cannot end a sentence.
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2「駅はどこですか。」「あのビルのとなり（ ）。」
The answer gives information, so ですよ is right. よ must come after です, and ですか would turn the answer into a question.
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3「このみせのケーキ、すごくおいしい（ ）。」
おいしい is an い-adjective, so よ attaches directly. だよ, だね and なよ put だ or な after an い-adjective, which is not possible.
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4「あ、あぶない（ ）！車が来ています。」
This is a warning, so よ is right. を and に are not sentence endings, and か would make it a question.
FAQ
What is the difference between よ and ね in Japanese?
よ gives the listener information they don't have. ね checks or shares something the speaker thinks the listener already knows. よね combines them: "right?"
Is よ rude?
No, but it is direct. Used a lot, or with someone senior, it can sound like you are correcting them. With friends it is completely normal.
More in Sentence basics
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