たらどう | Grammar

Structure

[verb た-form] + らどう [verb た-form] + らどうですか [verb た-form] + らいかがですか

Description

たらどう suggests something to the listener: "why don't you…?", "how about…?". It is the たら form of a verb plus どう, "how would it be if you…". Plain たらどう is for friends and family; たらどうですか is polite, and たらいかがですか is politer still.

きごう？

Why don't you go to the doctor?

。

How about taking a little rest?

。

Why don't you give it a try?

The suggestion is for the listener, so "you" is left unsaid. In casual speech どう can go too, leaving a rising たらきごう？: やすんだら休んだらきごう？.

Tone

Said flatly, たらどう can sound impatient or critical, like "why don't you just…". Intonation and context decide.

きごう？

Why don't you wake up a little earlier?

きごう？。

Why don't you leave the house earlier? You're always late.

With a customer or a superior, たらいかがですか is the form to use.

たらどう or ほうがいい

is firmer advice: do it, or something will go wrong. たらどう only puts an idea forward and leaves the choice to the listener.

。

You should go to the hospital.

きごう？

Why don't you try going to the hospital?

Examples

、きごう？

If you're tired, why don't you take a little rest?

、。

If you want to get better at Japanese, how about practicing every day?

、。きごう？

Those clothes don't suit you. How about choosing something different?

、きごう？

If you're free, why don't you go see a movie or something?

、。

Don't worry about it alone – how about talking to someone?

、きごう？

If you're that cold, why don't you put on a coat?

、。

Instead of calling, how about meeting and talking in person?

きごう？

Why don't you cook for yourself once in a while?

、きごう？

This book is interesting, so why don't you try reading it?

、。

It's bad for your health, so why don't you quit smoking?

、。

If there's something you don't understand, how about asking the teacher?

きごう？。

Why don't you leave the house earlier? You're always late.

References

たらどうBunpro