〜たらどうですか~tara dou desu ka
Tara dou desu ka (〜たらどうですか) means “gentle suggestion or advice”.
If your coughing continues, why don't you go to the hospital?
Use 〜たらどうですか to suggest a future action for someone to consider.
In the course
How it works
The other person has a fever. You suggest going to bed early and let them consider whether to do so.
First put the verb in the た form, then add 「らどうですか」: 寝た＋らどうですか.
Although it uses the た form, this suggests a future action. It does not mean the action has already happened.
If the た form ends in 「だ」, simply add 「ら」 to it too: 飲んだ→飲んだらどうですか.
The ending sounds like “How about it?”, but it offers a suggestion or advice for the other person to consider.
In the example, 「なら」 in the first half states the situation; 「行ったらどうですか」 in the second half suggests what to do.
Example sentences
- せきsekiがga続いtsuzuiてteいるなら、irunara、病院byouinへe行ったらどうittaradouですdesuか。ka。
If your coughing continues, why don't you go to the hospital?
In a conversation
- A昨日から冷えが原因で、お腹の痛みが続いています。
A: My stomach has been hurting since yesterday due to the cold.
- B痛み
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
If your cough continues, how about going to the hospital?
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
せきが続いているなら、病院へ____。
If your cough continues, how about going to the hospital?
More grammar in this theme
- 〜たらどうですかgentle suggestion or advice