Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N4 · Intermediate 1
〜なんかどうですか~nanka dou desu ka
gentle suggestion
Use 「〜なんかどうですか」 to offer one possible choice and let the other person decide.
How it works
The customer has not chosen a gift yet. The shop assistant points to the sweets and gently makes a suggestion.
Add 「なんかどうですか」 after the noun you want to recommend to ask what the other person thinks of it.
「なんか」 presents it as one possible option, leaving the other person room to choose.
This is a gentle suggestion used in conversation, useful for everyday discussions such as choosing a gift.
The examples suggest stationery and sweets. Here, 「なんか」 does not mean the speaker thinks poorly of them.
Example sentences
- そのsono国kuniのno習慣shuukanがga分からないなら、wakaranainara、文房bunbou具guなんかnankaどうdouですdesu
In a conversation
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
How about some Japanese sweets or something?
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
先輩への贈り物なら、手軽に使える名入れのタオル____。
How about something like a personalized towel that's easy to use for a gift to your senior?
More grammar in this theme
- 〜なんかどうですかgentle suggestion