Learn Hardcore Japanese: syuumatu ni tomodati to issyo ni otya wo nomimasen ka? - Shall we drink tea together with a friend on the weekend?

The form 〜ませんか (negative + question particle) is a very common way to make a polite invitation or suggestion in Japanese. Literally it means “won’t you…?”, but its function is more like “would you like to…?” or “shall we…?” in English.

Using 飲みませんか instead of 飲みますか softens the tone and makes it clear you’re inviting someone to join you, rather than just asking if they drink tea or not.
It’s considered friendlier and less direct than a positive question.

Why are there two に particles in 週末に and 一緒に?

They serve different purposes:

The first に in 週末に marks the point in time (“on the weekend”).
The second に is part of the adverbial phrase 一緒に, turning the noun 一緒 (“together”) into “together (with someone).” Without that に, 一緒 would just be a noun, not an adverb.

Why use both 友達と and 一緒に? Aren’t they both “with”?

They look similar but play different roles:

友達と uses the particle と to mark your companion: “with a friend.”
一緒に is an adverb meaning “together.”

You could say 友達とお茶を飲みませんか and it would still make sense, but 友達と一緒に emphasizes the idea of doing it “together with a friend.”

What role does を play in お茶を飲みませんか?

The particle を marks お茶 as the direct object of the verb 飲む (“to drink”). It indicates what is being drunk. In Japanese, almost all transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) use を to show that relationship.

Why is there an お in お茶? Can I say just 茶?

The prefix お is an honorific/polite marker added to certain words.

お茶 is the standard, polite way to say “tea.”
If you drop the お and just say 茶, it can sound overly casual or literary. Stick with お茶 in everyday conversation.

Could I use 飲みましょうか instead of 飲みませんか? What’s the difference?

Both forms can suggest doing something together, but their nuances differ:

飲みませんか is a direct invitation: “Would you like to drink…?”
飲みましょうか often sounds like you’re deciding on a plan (“Shall we drink…?”) or offering to do something for someone (“Shall I get you a drink?”). It’s less of an inviting question and more of a proposal.

Is the word order flexible? Could I say 友達と一緒に週末にお茶を飲みませんか instead?

Yes. Thanks to particles, Japanese word order is quite flexible. You could say:

週末に友達と一緒にお茶を飲みませんか？ (time → companion → verb)
友達と一緒に週末にお茶を飲みませんか？ (companion → time → verb)

Both are grammatically correct, though putting the time phrase (週末に) first is the most common and natural for setting the scene.