Translation guide
The English phrase 'do for' is a phrasal verb with several meanings, often implying doing something on behalf of someone, being sufficient, or causing ruin. This guide covers natural Japanese equivalents for each use.
これで足りますか？
Will this do?
お仕事は何をされていますか？
What do you do for a living?
Express performing an action for someone else's benefit or in their place.
Attach to the te-form of a verb to indicate doing something as a favor for someone. Often implies the action is for the benefit of the listener or a third party. Can sound presumptuous if used directly to a superior; safer with 〜てさしあげる in formal contexts.
私が代わりにやってあげる。
I'll do it for you.
荷物を持ってあげましょう。
Let me carry your luggage for you.
Used when someone does something for the speaker or the speaker's in-group. The subject is the person performing the favor. Expresses gratitude implicitly.
彼が宿題を手伝ってくれた。
He helped me with my homework (did it for me).
友達が料理を作ってくれた。
My friend cooked for me.
Indicates receiving a favor from someone. The subject is the recipient. Often used when the speaker arranges for someone to do something for them.
先生に推薦状を書いてもらった。
I had my teacher write a recommendation letter for me.
Literally 'do for the sake of'. Used to explicitly state the beneficiary. More formal and less conversational than 〜てあげる.
彼のためにケーキを焼いた。
I baked a cake for him.
Express that something is enough or will serve the purpose.
Means 'to be enough' or 'to suffice'. Often used in the potential form 足りる or negative 足りない.
この量で足りますか？
Will this amount do for you?
1000円あれば足りる。
1000 yen will do (for it).
Means 'to be in time' or 'to suffice for a need'. Often used for time or resources.
Means 'it's enough' or 'sufficient'. Can be used in various contexts.
もう十分です。
That will do. (That's enough.)
Express that something will destroy, kill, or finish someone or something. Often used in passive or with 'be done for'.
Means 'it's no good', 'I'm done for', 'it's over'. Common in casual speech to express hopelessness or ruin.
ああ、もうだめだ。
Oh, I'm done for.
Literally 'it's the end'. Used to mean 'it's over', 'we're finished', 'done for'.
これで終わりだ。
We're done for now.
Passive of やる, meaning 'to be done in', 'to be beaten', 'to be killed'. Often used in rough or dramatic contexts.
このままじゃやられる。
At this rate, we'll be done for.
Ask or state what someone does as their occupation.
Used to describe one's occupation or regular activity. 'What do you do?' is commonly 'お仕事は何をされていますか？'.
お仕事は何をされていますか？
What do you do for a living?
私は教師をしています。
I work as a teacher. (I do teaching for a living.)
The English 'do for' rarely translates directly into a single Japanese word. Instead, use the appropriate giving/receiving verb pattern (〜てあげる/くれる/もらう) or context-specific phrases. Translating word-for-word often results in unnatural Japanese.
These three patterns express the direction of the favor. 〜てあげる: speaker does for someone else. 〜てくれる: someone does for speaker. 〜てもらう: speaker receives favor from someone. Choose based on who is the subject and who benefits.
これで間に合いますか？
Will this do (for now)?