How do you say "When the ball comes, what do I do?" in Japanese?

"When the ball comes, what do I do?" in Japanese is "ボールがきたら、どうする？". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "ボールがきたら、どうする？" mean in English?

"ボールがきたら、どうする？" means "When the ball comes, what do I do?" in English. Usage tip: Great question prompt for kids. [どうする？] = “What will you do?” encouraging decision-making.

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How to Say ‘When the ball comes, what do I do?’ in Japanese

ボールがきたら、どうする？

booru ga ki tara dou suru

[boh-roo gah kee tah-rah doh soo-roo]

💬 Usage Tip: Great question prompt for kids. [どうする？] = “What will you do?” encouraging decision-making.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Many Japanese youth coaches ask short questions like this to get kids thinking rather than only giving orders.

Phrase Breakdown

ボール

booru

[boh-roo]

ball

The soccer ball; used as the subject in ‘ボールがきたら’.

Example

ボールがきたら、どうする？

When the ball comes, what will you do?

が

[gah]

(subject marker)

Marks ‘ボール’ as the subject of coming.

Example

ボールがきたら、よこをみて。

When the ball comes, look to the side.

き

[kee]

come (conditional part)

From 来る; with たら becomes ‘きたら’ = ‘when it comes’.

Example

ボールがきたら、すぐにき。

When the ball comes, (start of) come right away.

たら

tara

[tah-rah]

if/when (conditional)

Sets a condition for the next action: ‘If the ball comes, then…’.

Example

ボールがきたら、トラップする？

When the ball comes, will you trap it?

どう

dou

[doh]

how; what (way)

Question word asking method/choice. In coaching, helps kids think: ‘What should you do?’

Example

ボールがきたら、どううごく？

When the ball comes, how will you move?

する

suru

[soo-roo]

to do

Basic verb. ‘どうする？’ = ‘What will you do?’ Useful for prompting decision-making.

Example

ボールがきたら、どうする？サイドにだす？

When the ball comes, what will you do? Pass it out to the side?

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