〜と一緒に: How to Say 'Together With' in Japanese
What it means
〜と一緒に is how you say you do something together with someone (or something). The companion is marked with と, and 一緒に (いっしょに, "together") makes the togetherness explicit. It's warmer and more emphatic than plain と on its own. The whole phrase sits right before the verb, describing how the action is done.
ヤッタンはモチと一緒に勉強します。
ヤッタンは モチと いっしょに べんきょうします。
Yattan studies together with Mochi.
家族と一緒に旅行したいです。
かぞくと いっしょに りょこうしたいです。
I want to travel together with my family.
と一緒に pairs naturally with 〜たい.
弟と一緒に公園で遊びました。
おとうとと いっしょに こうえんで あそびました。
I played in the park together with my little brother.
How to form it
The pattern is simply a noun (a person or thing) plus と一緒に, then your verb:
| Piece | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (companion) | who you're with | モチ |
| と | "with" particle | モチと |
| 一緒に | "together" | モチと一緒に |
| Verb | the shared action | モチと一緒に勉強する |
Put together: モチと一緒に勉強する = "study together with Mochi." The noun before と is always your companion, never the thing you're studying.
一緒に on its own
When it's already clear who you're with, you can drop the 〜と and just say 一緒に = "together":
一緒に行こう！
いっしょに いこう！
Let's go together!
一緒に alone — no companion named because it's obvious.
先生も一緒に食べました。
せんせいも いっしょに たべました。
The teacher ate together with us, too.
This is extremely common in everyday speech: 一緒にやろう ("let's do it together"), 一緒に帰る ("go home together").
と一緒に vs plain と
You can often mark a companion with と alone — モチと勉強する already means "study with Mochi." So why add 一緒に?
| Form | Core idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜と | with (companion) — neutral | モチと勉強する = study with Mochi |
| 〜と一緒に | together with — emphasizes doing it side by side | モチと一緒に勉強する = study together with Mochi |
Both are correct. Adding 一緒に highlights the togetherness, so it feels a little warmer and more deliberate. For more on the companion (and listing) uses of と on its own, see 〜と.
More examples
モチと一緒に映画を見に行きます。
モチと いっしょに えいがを みに いきます。
I'm going to see a movie together with Mochi.
ヤッタンの弟は犬と一緒に寝ます。
ヤッタンの おとうとは いぬと いっしょに ねます。
Yattan's little brother sleeps together with the dog.
The companion can be a thing or animal, not only a person.
みんなと一緒に写真を撮りましょう。
みんなと いっしょに しゃしんを とりましょう。
Let's take a photo together with everyone.
Common mistakes
- Marking the companion with を or に instead of と. It's モチと一緒に, not モチを一緒に or モチに一緒に.
- Forgetting 一緒 is read いっしょ. It's not いちしょ or いっしょう — small つ, short お.
- Putting 一緒に in the wrong spot. It goes right before the verb: 家族と一緒に旅行する, not 一緒に家族と旅行する (this last one sounds off).
- Thinking you must use と. When the companion is obvious, plain 一緒に is natural on its own: 一緒に行こう.
Quick recap
- [person] と一緒に = "together with [person]"; the companion takes と.
- 一緒に alone = "together," used when the companion is already clear.
- It's a warmer, more emphatic version of plain と marking a companion.
- 一緒に sits right before the verb.
Your turn
Choose the correct particle and placement for と一緒に.
Start the 5-question drill →Take the full N5 〜と一緒に drill →
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between と and と一緒に?
Both mark a companion: モチと勉強する and モチと一緒に勉強する both mean 'study with Mochi.' Adding 一緒に ('together') emphasizes that you're doing it side by side, so it feels a bit warmer and more deliberate.
Which particle marks the person I'm with?
Use と: 家族と一緒に旅行する ('travel together with family'). Not を or に.
Can I use 一緒に without と?
Yes. When it's already clear who you're with, just say 一緒に: 一緒に行こう ('let's go together'). This is very common in casual speech.
How is 一緒に read?
It's read いっしょに — a small っ (double consonant) and a short しょ. Don't lengthen it to いっしょう.