Posted inN4 Grammar

Japanese Grammar: How to Make Suggestions with ~たらどう (tara dou) | JLPT N4

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

How about doing…?

🎯 Primary Function

To give a suggestion or advice to someone about what they should do, often in a gentle or questioning tone.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb た-form + らどう (ra dou) / どうですか (dou desu ka) / どうでしょう (dou deshou)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Generally not used in highly formal business or keigo situations, although a slightly more formal variation might exist. It is more common in semi-formal or informal contexts.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common among friends, family, or close colleagues. It is a natural way to suggest something.

✍️ Written Language

Primarily used in informal written communication like emails, messages, or casual dialogue in fiction. Less common in formal essays or reports.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Widely used in everyday conversation.

💡 Common Applications

Suggesting a specific action to take.
Used when you think a particular action might solve a problem or be beneficial.
Example: 疲れたなら、少し休んだらどうですか。 (Tsukareta nara, sukoshi yasundara dou desu ka?) If you’re tired, how about resting a little?
Suggesting an alternative plan.
Used when discussing options or considering different approaches.
Example: 土曜日は雨みたいだから、日曜日にしたらどう？ (Doyoubi wa ame mitai da kara, nichiyoubi ni shitara dou?) It looks like rain on Saturday, so how about making it Sunday?
Gently prompting someone to do something.
Can be used when someone is hesitant or unsure, gently encouraging them.
Example: 迷っているなら、先生に聞いてみたらどう？ (Mayotte iru nara, sensei ni kiite mitara dou?) If you’re unsure, how about trying to ask the teacher?
📊
Frequency
Very common in everyday spoken Japanese.
🎚️
Difficulty
N4
Example Sentences
疲れたなら、少し休んだらどうですか。
If you’re tired, how about resting a little?
分からないことがあったら、先生に聞いてみたらどう？
If there’s something you don’t understand, how about trying to ask the teacher?
新しいパソコンが必要なら、このモデルにしたらどうでしょう。
If you need a new computer, how about making it this model?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Uses the た-form of the verb.
This pattern requires the past tense (ta-form) of the verb.
Example: 読む (yomu) -> 読んだ (yonda) -> 読んだらどう (yondara dou) 食べる (taberu) -> 食べた (tabeta) -> 食べたらどう (tabetara dou) する (suru) -> した (shita) -> したらどう (shitara dou) 来る (kuru) -> 来た (kita) -> 来たらどう (kitara dou)
Politeness levels vary.
The politeness changes depending on the ending used.
Example: 〜たらどう？ (casual) 〜たらどうですか？ (standard polite) 〜たらどうでしょう？ (softer, slightly more formal)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using the dictionary form or ます-form before 〜たらどう.
✅ Always use the た-form.
Incorrect: 食べるならどう？ (taberu nara dou?) Incorrect: 食べますたらどう？ (tabemasu tara dou?) Correct: 食べたらどう？ (tabetara dou?)
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🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Informal to semi-formal. Avoid using with superiors or in highly formal business contexts.
Social Situations: Common among friends, family, close colleagues, or when speaking to someone younger or in a lower position.
Regional Variations: The basic structure is standard, but subtle variations in intonation may exist regionally.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜たらどう vs 〜ばいい vs 〜たらどうか
〜たらどう is a general suggestion or advice. 〜ばいい often implies “that would be good” or “should do,” sometimes sounding slightly more prescriptive or like a recommended solution. 〜たらどうか is a slightly more formal or stiffer version of 〜たらどう.
When to use: Use 〜たらどう for friendly, everyday suggestions. Use 〜ばいい when you think it’s a good or necessary solution. Use 〜たらどうか in slightly more formal contexts or written communication (less common in speech than 〜たらどう/どうですか).
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📝 Conjugation Notes

Review irregular verbs (する, 来る) and the rules for conjugating Group 1 and Group 2 verbs into the た-form.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pay attention to the intonation, especially the questioning rise at the end of どう or ですか.

🧠 Memory Tips

Break it down: た-form (past/conditional base) + ら (conditional particle) + どう (how?) = “If you do this, how would that be?” -> “How about doing this?”

Practice Exercises
具合が悪いなら、早く（＿＿）どう？
寝る
寝て
寝た
寝たら
迷っているなら、先生に（＿＿）みたらどうですか。
聞いて
聞いた
聞く
聞け
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