…どうですか
…dō desu ka
The English phrase "what about" can be expressed in Japanese using …どうですか (…dō desu ka). Wiktionary also lists …いかがですか (…ikaga desu ka).
Meaning: used to make a suggestion (adv)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …どうですか | …dō desu ka |
| …いかがですか | …ikaga desu ka |
This phrase is used to suggest an idea or to ask for an opinion on a specific topic.
Which one should you use?
…どうですか is the standard polite way to say "how about…" or "what about…" in everyday situations. In contrast, …いかがですか is a formal version used when making a suggestion to a customer or a superior.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using this phrase to ask "what about [topic]", the topic is marked with the particle …は (forming …はどうですか).
How do you pronounce it?
…dō desu ka
Did you know?
- The word どう is a contraction of どのように, meaning 'in what way'.
- In very casual speech, どうですか is shortened to どう？, which is often accompanied by a rising intonation and a slight tilt of the head.
- If you use どうですか to ask about someone's health, it can sound like you are demanding a status report rather than showing concern.
Example sentences for Japanese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what about” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
