What does ～たらどうですか mean? Japanese grammar N4

Forming it

How to use it

A gentle suggestion to someone else about a way to solve something.

• Literal meaning: "how about if you do ~?" — uses the conditional ～たら then asks for an opinion. Because it's a question, it's softer than ～方がいい (advice) and much softer than ～べきだ (obligation).
• The key point Vietnamese learners often overlook: this pattern is only used for OTHER PEOPLE'S matters, not one's own. And although gentle, it's still a bit of top-down advice — using it with a boss is impolite, even changed to いかがですか.
• With someone above you, instead of suggesting, ask their opinion or offer to help: ～ましょうか, or ～てはいかがでしょうか in formal writing.
• Context: friends, peer coworkers, subordinates, or a doctor speaking to a patient.

Examples

• 熱(ねつ)があるんですか。今日(きょう)は早(はや)く帰(かえ)ったらどうですか。

  You have a fever? How about going home early today?

• 漢字(かんじ)が覚(おぼ)えられないなら、毎日(まいにち)少(すこ)しずつ書(か)いたらどうですか。

  If you can't memorize kanji, how about writing a little every day?

• 疲(つか)れているみたいですね。少(すこ)し休(やす)んだらいかがですか。

  You seem tired. How about resting a little?

Keep in mind

• Saying just ～たら？ with a rising intonation is a super-casual version used between friends — but with an annoyed tone it sounds like "why don't you just do it?" (a reproach).
• Saying ～たらどうですか repeatedly to the same person easily comes across as nagging — Japanese people are very sensitive about this.

Common mistakes

• Wrong私(わたし)は疲(つか)れたから、休(やす)んだらどうですか。

  I'm tired, so how about you rest a bit?

  Correct私(わたし)は疲(つか)れたから、少(すこ)し休(やす)みます。

  ～たらどうですか is a suggestion for SOMEONE ELSE, not used to talk about your own plans.

• Wrong社長(しゃちょう)、少(すこ)し休(やす)んだらどうですか。

  Boss, why don't you rest a bit?

  Correct社長(しゃちょう)、少(すこ)しお休(やす)みになりませんか。

  This kind of suggestion to a superior is impolite. With a boss, use a more respectful, softer question.

Exam tips

• Scale of advice from mild to strong: ～たらどうですか < ～方がいい < ～なければならない ≒ ～べきだ.

Related patterns

• ～方がいい
• ～ませんか
• ～ましょうか
• ～たら