Translation guide
English 'how' covers many question types: manner, means, degree, state, and more. Japanese uses different question words and patterns depending on what you are asking. This guide organizes them by the kind of information you want.
これはいくらですか。
How much is this?
You want to know the way something is done, or how something happens.
The most general and common way to ask 'how'. Used in casual and polite speech. Often combined with a verb.
これはどう使いますか。
How do you use this?
どうやって行きますか。
How do you get there?
More formal and explicit than どう. Literally 'in what way'. Common in writing and polite speech.
Specifically asks about the method or means. Very common in spoken Japanese.
どうやって日本語を勉強しましたか。
How did you study Japanese?
Asks 'how do you do (something)?' using the noun form of a verb (方). Polite and natural.
この漢字の読み方はどうですか。
How do you read this kanji?
You want to know someone's health, feelings, or the state of something.
Used to ask about condition or state. Often with ですか or casual だ.
You want to know how much, how far, how long, etc.
You want to know a specific number, price, age, etc.
Asks 'how much' (price).
You want to ask 'how about...?' or 'what do you think?'
Standard way to ask 'how about...?' or 'what do you think of...?'
映画はどうでしたか。
How was the movie?
コーヒーはいかがですか。
How about some coffee? (polite)
You want to know why something is the case.
You want to express surprise or emphasis: 'How beautiful!', 'How kind of you!'
Expresses 'how...!' in an emotional way. Casual.
なんて美しいんだろう。
How beautiful!
Formal/written exclamatory 'how'. Often used in speeches or literature.
English 'how' is often part of fixed phrases that don't use どう in Japanese. For example, 'How are you?' is お元気ですか, not どうですか. 'How old are you?' is 何歳ですか or おいくつですか. Learn the natural Japanese question for each situation.
いかが is the polite version of どう. Use いかが in formal situations, with superiors, or in customer service. どう is fine for everyday conversation.
お茶はいかがですか。
How about some tea? (polite)
お茶どう？
How about tea? (casual)
「ありがとう」は日本語でどう言いますか。
How do you say 'thank you' in Japanese?
日本にどのくらいいらっしゃいますか。
How long have you been in Japan?
How did you solve the problem?
気分はどうですか。
How are you feeling?
天気はどう？
How's the weather?
Polite equivalent of どう. Often used in formal situations or customer service.
お加減はいかがですか。
How are you feeling? (polite)
Asks about extent, amount, duration, distance. Very versatile.
どのくらい時間がかかりますか。
How long does it take?
駅までどのくらいですか。
How far is it to the station?
Same meaning as どのくらい, slightly more casual.
どれくらい待ちましたか。
How long did you wait?
Formal/literary version of どのくらい. Used in writing or formal speech.
どれほどの影響があるか不明だ。
It's unclear how much influence it has.
これはいくらですか。
How much is this?
Prefix for 'how many' or 'what number'. Combine with counters: 何人 (how many people), 何歳 (how old), 何回 (how many times).
Suggests doing something: 'how about doing...?'
少し休んだらどうですか。
How about taking a break?
Common way to ask 'why' or 'how come'. Can be used in most situations.
どうして遅れたんですか。
How come you were late?
More formal/literary 'why'. Often used in writing or serious questions.
なぜそう思うのですか。
How come you think so? / Why do you think so?
なんと親切なのでしょう。
How kind!