Translation guide
This entry covers how to make suggestions, offers, and ask for opinions in Japanese, equivalent to English 'how about ...?'. The most natural expressions depend on whether you're suggesting an activity, offering something, or asking for someone's opinion.
Proposing that someone do something together or try something, like 'How about going to a movie?'
Polite invitation pattern. Attach to the verb stem (masu-form without ます). This is the most common and natural way to suggest doing something together.
映画を見に行きませんか。
How about going to see a movie?
How about having lunch together?
Casual suggestion pattern. Attach to the plain negative form of the verb. Used among friends or in informal situations.
Literally 'how would it be if you did...'. Used to give advice or suggest a course of action to someone. More direct than 〜ませんか.
医者に行ったらどうですか。
How about going to a doctor?
もう少し考えてみたらどうですか。
How about thinking about it a little more?
Casual suggestion to try something. Combines 〜てみる (try doing) with the casual suggestion form.
このゲームやってみない？
How about trying this game?
Politely offering an item or help, like 'How about some tea?'
Polite expression for offering something. いかが is a more formal version of どう. Often used in service situations.
お茶はいかがですか。
How about some tea?
もう少しいかがですか。
How about a little more?
Standard polite offer. Slightly less formal than いかがですか but still polite.
コーヒーはどうですか。
How about some coffee?
Casual offer. Used among friends.
ビールはどう？
How about a beer?
Soliciting someone's thoughts on a topic or proposal, like 'How about this plan?'
Standard way to ask for an opinion. Can be used for objects, ideas, or plans.
この計画はどうですか。
How about this plan?
明日の会議はどうですか。
How about tomorrow's meeting?
More explicit 'what do you think about...'. Useful when you want a clear opinion.
この色はどう思いますか。
How about this color? (What do you think?)
Casual opinion request.
この服、どう？
How about this outfit?
Proposing an alternative when the original idea isn't suitable, like 'How about we go tomorrow instead?'
Literally 'rather than that, how about...'. Used to shift the suggestion politely.
それより、明日行きませんか。
How about going tomorrow instead?
Casual transition to an alternative suggestion. じゃあ means 'well then'.
じゃあ、映画はどうですか。
How about a movie then?
Asking 〜さんはどうですか about a person can imply 'How about (dating/marrying) that person?' or 'What's wrong with them?'. To ask for someone's opinion of a person, use 〜についてどう思いますか or 〜のことをどう思いますか.
田中さんについてどう思いますか。
What do you think about Mr. Tanaka?
〜ませんか is an invitation ('Won't you join me?'), while 〜ましょうか is an offer to do something for someone ('Shall I do it?'). Using 〜ましょうか for an invitation can sound presumptuous.
手伝いましょうか。
Shall I help you? (offer)
一緒に行きませんか。
How about going together? (invitation)