How to Say ‘What do (you) do?’ in Japanese
どうする?
dou suru
[doh soo-roo]
💬 Usage Tip: [どうする?] is a quick coaching question: “What will you do?” Great for decision-making moments: after receiving the ball, or when marking space.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese youth coaching often uses questions like [どうする?] to encourage “thinking soccer,” even with very young kids.
Phrase Breakdown
どう
dou
[doh]
how; what will you do?
This 'どう' is the question word used to ask what action to take next, especially in a game situation.
相手が来たよ、どうする?
The opponent is coming—what will you do?
する
suru
[soo-roo]
to do
In the pattern 'どうする?', する means 'do'—asking what choice/action you will make.
せまいときは、どうする? パスする?
When it's tight, what will you do? Pass?
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