同意しますか？
dōi shimasu ka?
In Japanese, "do you agree?" is said as 同意しますか？ (dōi shimasu ka?)
The phrase 同意しますか？ is used to ask if someone shares the same opinion or accepts a proposal. It is often used in formal settings, such as legal contexts, business contracts or official meetings, to confirm consent.
Which one should you use?
While 同意しますか？ is used for formal consent or agreement to a term, 賛成ですか？ is more commonly used to ask if someone is 'in favor' of an idea or opinion in a discussion.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, you can use the polite expression ご同意いただけますか？ to mean "May I have your agreement?" In casual conversation with friends, you can use the dictionary form 同意する？ followed by a rising intonation or use the informal 同感？ (Agree?) or 同じ意見？ (Same opinion?).
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle か at the end of the phrase turns the statement into a question.
How do you pronounce it?
dōi shimasu ka?
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific term 根回し (nemawashi), which describes the process of privately seeking agreement from all parties before a formal question like 同意しますか？ is ever asked in a meeting.
- In a group setting, a Japanese person might respond to 同意しますか？ with 検討します (kentō shimasu), meaning 'I will consider it'. This is often a polite, indirect way to signal disagreement without saying 'no'.
- Asking 同意しますか？ in a group can be socially risky because of the 'culture of harmony'. If a leader asks this publicly, subordinates may feel pressured to say 'yes' to avoid conflict, making the question feel more like a request for conformity than a genuine inquiry.
Examples in context
- 今日、映画館に行こうと思っているんだけど、一緒？I'm thinking of going to the movie theater today, are you in/agreed?
- このプランに同意しますか？Kono puran ni doui shimasu ka?Do you agree with this plan?
- 私の意見に同意しますか？Watashi no iken ni doui shimasu ka?Do you agree with my opinion?
- 全員、この決定に同意しますか？Zen'in, kono kettei ni doui shimasu ka?Does everyone agree with this decision?
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a new project schedule.
- 陽葵 Himari締め切りを来週にしましょう。同意しますか？Shimekiri o raishū ni shimashō. Dōi shimasu ka?Let's make the deadline next week. Do you agree?
- 蓮 Renはい、それでいいと思います。Hai, sore de ii to omoimasu.Yes, I think that would be fine.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。蓮さんに任せますね。Arigatō gozaimasu. Ren-san ni makasemasu ne.Thank you. I'll leave it to you, Ren.
- 蓮 Ren了解しました。準備します。Ryōkai shimashita. Junbi shimasu.Understood. I will prepare it.
