What is 〜たらどう?
〜たらどう (or more politely 〜たらどうですか) is used to make suggestions, meaning "how about" or "why don't you." It's a casual way to give advice or propose ideas.
休んだらどう？
"How about resting?"
医者に行ったらどうですか
"How about going to the doctor?"
もっと勉強したらどう？
"How about studying more?"
Formation
Pattern: Verb た-form + らどう(ですか)
| Verb | た-form | + らどう |
|---|---|---|
| 見る | 見た | 見たらどう |
| 食べる | 食べた | 食べたらどう |
| 来る | 来た | 来たらどう |
| する | した | したらどう |
| 書く | 書いた | 書いたらどう |
| 読む | 読んだ | 読んだらどう |
Examples
行く → 行ったらどう (How about going?)
話す → 話したらどう (How about talking?)
休む → 休んだらどう (How about resting?)
Politeness Levels
Very casual: たらどう
休んだらどう
"How about resting?"
やめたらどう
"How about quitting?"
Use with close friends only!
Casual-polite: たらどうですか
休んだらどうですか
"How about resting?"
相談したらどうですか
"How about consulting?"
Most common everyday form
More polite: たらいかがですか
お休みになったらいかがですか
"How about resting?" (very polite)
ご相談されたらいかがですか
"How about consulting?" (very polite)
Use in formal situations
Basic Usage
Making suggestions
映画を見に行ったらどう？
"How about going to see a movie?"
早く寝たらどうですか
"How about sleeping early?"
新しい仕事を探したらどう？
"How about looking for a new job?"
Giving advice
もっと運動したらどうですか
"How about exercising more?"
医者に相談したらどう？
"How about consulting a doctor?"
謝ったらどうですか
"How about apologizing?"
Common Conversations
Example 1: Health Advice
A: 最近、すごく疲れてるんだ
"I've been really tired lately"
B: 少し休んだらどう？
"How about resting a bit?"
A: そうだね。週末ゆっくりするよ
"You're right. I'll relax this weekend"
Example 2: Problem Solving
A: 彼氏と喧嘩しちゃった
"I had a fight with my boyfriend"
B: ちゃんと話し合ったらどうですか
"How about talking it through properly?"
A: そうですね。明日話してみます
"You're right. I'll try talking tomorrow"
Example 3: Study Advice
A: 試験が心配です
"I'm worried about the exam"
B: もっと勉強したらどうですか
"How about studying more?"
A: はい、頑張ります
"Yes, I'll do my best"
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using dictionary form
Wrong: 行くたらどう ❌
Right: 行ったらどう ✓
"How about going?"
Must use た-form!
Mistake 2: Too casual with superiors
Wrong to boss: もっと考えたらどう ❌
Right: もう少しご検討されたらいかがですか ✓
"How about considering it more?"
Know your audience!
Mistake 3: Being too pushy
Can sound pushy: やめたらどう ⚠️
Softer: やめたらどうですか ⚠️
Even softer: やめることも考えてみたらどうですか ✓
"How about considering quitting?"
Add softeners for sensitive topics!
When to Use たらどう
Appropriate situations
✓ Giving friendly advice
✓ Making casual suggestions
✓ Problem-solving discussions
✓ Health and lifestyle tips
✓ Among friends and family
Be careful with
⚠️ Sensitive personal matters
⚠️ Major life decisions
⚠️ With people you don't know well
⚠️ When advice wasn't asked for
⚠️ Superior-subordinate relationships
Adding Softeners
もう少し (a bit more)
もう少し考えたらどうですか
"How about thinking about it a bit more?"
ちょっと (a little)
ちょっと休んだらどう？
"How about resting a little?"
一度 (once)
一度医者に見てもらったらどうですか
"How about seeing a doctor once?"
試しに (as a trial)
試しにやってみたらどう？
"How about trying it as a trial?"
Responding to たらどう
Agreeing
そうだね
"You're right"
いい考えだね
"That's a good idea"
そうしてみるよ
"I'll try that"
そうします
"I'll do that"
Declining
うーん、どうかな
"Hmm, I don't know"
それはちょっと...
"That's a bit..."
今は無理かな
"It's impossible right now"
考えてみます
"I'll think about it"
Common Advice Patterns
Health suggestions
もっと寝たらどうですか
"How about sleeping more?"
運動したらどう？
"How about exercising?"
野菜を食べたらどうですか
"How about eating vegetables?"
病院に行ったらどう？
"How about going to the hospital?"
Work/study suggestions
もっと勉強したらどう？
"How about studying more?"
先生に聞いたらどうですか
"How about asking the teacher?"
転職を考えたらどう？
"How about considering a job change?"
休暇を取ったらどうですか
"How about taking a vacation?"
Relationship suggestions
謝ったらどう？
"How about apologizing?"
正直に話したらどうですか
"How about talking honestly?"
もう一度考えたらどう？
"How about reconsidering?"
別れたらどうですか
"How about breaking up?" (very direct!)
Combining with Reasons
Adding だって/から
疲れてるんだから、休んだらどう？
"You're tired, so how about resting?"
時間がないんだから、タクシーで行ったらどうですか
"You don't have time, so how about going by taxi?"
たらどう vs Other Suggestions
たらどう (casual suggestion)
映画を見たらどう？
"How about watching a movie?"
Casual, friendly advice
ませんか (invitation)
映画を見ませんか
"Won't you watch a movie?"
Inviting them to join you
ほうがいい (stronger advice)
映画を見たほうがいい
"You should watch the movie"
Stronger recommendation
といい (hope/wish)
映画を見るといい
"It would be good if you watched the movie"
Gentler wish
Negative Suggestions
Using ない form
やめたらどう？
"How about quitting?"
行かないほうがいいよ
"You shouldn't go" (stronger)
無理しないほうがいいんじゃない？
"Isn't it better not to overdo it?"
Casual Alternatives
じゃない？
休んだほうがいいんじゃない？
"Wouldn't it be better to rest?"
More tentative than たらどう
してみたら？
やってみたら？
"Why don't you try it?"
Emphasizes trying
Practice Sentences
Basic
休んだらどう？
"How about resting?"
医者に行ったらどうですか
"How about going to the doctor?"
相談したらどう？
"How about consulting?"
Intermediate
疲れてるみたいだから、今日は早く帰ったらどうですか
"You look tired, so how about going home early today?"
その仕事が嫌なら、転職を考えたらどう？
"If you don't like that job, how about considering a job change?"
試験が心配なら、もっと勉強したらどうですか
"If you're worried about the exam, how about studying more?"
Advanced
ずっと一人で悩んでないで、誰かに相談したらどうですか
"Instead of worrying alone all the time, how about consulting someone?"
そんなに忙しいなら、一度ゆっくり休暇を取ったらいかがですか
"If you're that busy, how about taking a nice vacation once?"
お互いのために、もう一度よく話し合ってみたらどうでしょうか
"For both your sakes, how about trying to talk it through carefully once more?"
Related Grammar Points
- 〜たほうがいい - Should/had better
- 〜といい - It would be good if
- 〜たらいい - Would be good if
- 〜ませんか - Won't you (invitation)
- Conditional たら - If/when
- Giving advice - Advice patterns