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.
Structure
[Verb た-form] + らどう / らどうですか
Examples
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
• 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.
More expressions
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