Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 10: 15/19

たらどうWhy don't you...?, What if you did...?

It can be further contracted to たら by itself in very casual conversations.

Structure

Verb［たら］+ どう + だ？
Verb［たら］+ どう + （か）？
Verb［たら］ ？

Details

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    Standard

About たらどう

When the conjunction particle たら is used before the adverb どう, it primarily presents a situation, then asks a question about it potentially happening. This construction can be translated as 'why don't you (A)?', or 'what if you did (A)?'. Realistically, it just means 'when (A), how about that?'. It is often used for giving advice.

To use this expression, convert the verb that you want to use into its たら form, and then add どう.

Sometimes たら is used by itself, with a tone that implies that it is a question (or simply by adding a question mark in written language). This is an abbreviation of たらどう, and carries the same nuance.

だ or か may be added to the end of たらどう, to emphasize the 'question' even further. However, they are not required.

Caution

Despite being used for giving advice, たらどう may be interpreted as criticism. Due to this, care will need to be taken with your tone of voice.

  • たまには頭(あたま)を使(つか)ったらどう？
    Why don't you use your head occasionally? (You should try thinking for once)

Related

Examples

--:--

    公園(こうえん)に遊(あそ)びに行(い)ったらどうですか。

    Why don't you go to play in the park?

    あそこのゴミを拾(ひろ)ったらどうですか。

    Why don't you go pick up that garbage over there?

    ダイエットをしてみたらどう？

    Why don't you try dieting?

    そんなに彼(かれ)が好(す)きだったら、付(つ)き合(あ)ったらどう？

    If you like him that much, why don't you go out with him?

    日本(にほん)に居(い)て寂(さび)しいなら、アメリカに帰(かえ)ったらどう？

    If you feel lonely in Japan, why don't you go back to America?

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      たらどう – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (16 in total)

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        why don’t you

        Structure
        Verb[ た・ら ] + どう・です・か
        Verb[ た・ら ] + どうだ ？
        Verb[ た・ら ] + どう ？
        Verb[ た・ら ] ?

        [suggestion/advice, can be used to indirectly criticize someone(or can be interpreted as criticism, even if there is no such intention!) for not already taking suggested action, less direct than Verb[ば]+いい]

        View on Bunpro

      • max99x

        max99x

        If I understand correctly, this literally translates to “what if you did ___?”, which retains the meaning of giving advice and potential criticism, but is much easier to connect.

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        Hey

        Yes, it is very good English approximation

        Cheers,

      • Melanthe

        Melanthe

        I see the following constructions listed:

        〜たらどうですか。
        〜たらどう？
        〜たら？

        Why isn’t 〜たらどうだ？ among them?

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        @Melanthe

        Hey and thanks for the suggestion!
        It has been added to the grammar point and alternative answers!

        Cheers!

      • ulurujamman

        ulurujamman

        Can this construction be used with the えば conditional form?

      • reverie

        reverie

        I think it sounds more natural, too.

        “ダイエットをしてみたらどう”

        “What if you tried dieting” sounds more gentle, as it seems intended.

        All of theexample sentences use the English “Why don’t you…” (try dieting, go outside to play, etc.)…which is right as well, I’m sure, but if “what if…” is more accurate, should the English be changed, making reviews a tad easier?

        I didn’t want to take up everyone’s time by flagging each one unless it matters. I’m not fluent so I don’t quite trust my own judgement.

      • Pep95

        Pep95

        Since it can be used to express criticsm, isn’t it better to just never use this? Or am seeing this term as worse than it actually is?

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        @Pep95
        You might be seeing too much in it, but there is actually a way to avoid most of the misunderstandings:

        Just use てみたら:
        like ～てみたらどうかな or ～てみてもいいと思う and so on

        Of course, something like もうやめたらどう might be missunderstood

      • Johnathan-Weir

        Johnathan-Weir

        I think this video does a good job of showing the positive and negative connotations of this grammar point. Readingsに加えたらどうですか？ww

      • Pushindawood

        Pushindawood

        @Johnathan-Weir Thank you for the share! I have added this video to the Readings section. Cheers!

      • CrisH

        CrisH

        Why is there no object particle in this case?
        そんなに暇(ひま)だったら、アルバイトさがしたらどう？

      • mrnoone

        mrnoone

        Hey and long time no see! @CrisH

        Good question!
        In more casual language を particle is often dropped. This is the case of this.

        I hope it helps,
        Cheers!

      • CrisH

        CrisH

        Thanks - I got a bit swamped with other stuff, but now I’m back for life!

        Is this equivalent to using する-verbs without it then?

      • sergimas

        sergimas

        Sorry, i know It’s been asked before in this thread but I have not seen it answered, can we use the ば conditional with this construction or the nuance would be different?

        Thanks!

      • EbonyMidget

        EbonyMidget

      • sergimas

        sergimas

        Thanks for the link!

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