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JLPT N4Expressions

たらどう(ですか)— Why don't you… (suggestion)

A soft suggestion meaning 'why don't you / how about doing…'. More direct than a hint but gentler than a plain imperative; it recommends a course of action to the listener.

Grammar path · 練習

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A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 63 · EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb た-form] + らどう / らどうですか

Examples · 例文

  • 疲れたなら、少し休んだらどう？

    Tsukareta nara, sukoshi yasundara dou?

    If you're tired, why don't you rest a bit?

    休んだら + どう = how about resting?

  • 先生に聞いてみたらどうですか？

    Sensei ni kiite mitara dou desu ka?

    Why don't you try asking the teacher?

    聞いてみたら + どうですか (polite)

  • 一度行ってみたらどうかな。

    Ichido itte mitara dou kana.

    How about going once to try it out?

    かな softens it further into gentle musing/suggesting

Usage notes · 注意

  • たらどう / たらどうですか is a classic suggestion form.
  • Politeness/strength ladder: たらいい (it'd be good if…), たらどう (why don't you…), たほうがいい (you'd better…), なさい (firm instruction).
  • Tone depends on context — it can sound caring or slightly pushy, so mind the situation with superiors.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones たらどう(ですか) is tested against.

vsたほうがいい

たほうがいい gives firmer advice ('you'd better…'), often implying a downside if not done. たらどう is a lighter 'how about…?' that leaves the choice open.

vsたらいい / といい

たらいい/といい express a hope or mild recommendation about what would be good. たらどう directly puts the suggestion to the listener as a question.

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