Is there a reason why adding か to ません makes it an invitionan or some sort?

Is there a reason why adding か to, “I don’t” all of a sudden changes it to an invite of some sort? Or is that just how it it? I just want to clarify so I don’t have to rack my head around this.

I was thinking that it would make change it to, “do you not want to” or something like that.

ありがと

5 comments
  1. It’s pretty common in English too – “Won’t you come with us?”, “Will you not have a cup of tea, Father”. It softens the request and makes it more ok to refuse

  2. I’ve always thought of the negative in this form as, “Won’t you?”

    いっしょにたべませんか
    Won’t you eat with me?

  3. I’ve heard it a few ways.

    One is that if you ask in the affirmative (一緒に食べますか。) it comes off as presumptive.

    Secondly, refusing someone’s offer is much more blunt. A negative invitation allows an easier refusal.

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