How to Say ‘What should I do?’ in Japanese
どうしたらいいですか。
dou shi tara ii desu ka
[doo shee tah-rah ee dess ka]
💬 Usage Tip: 〜たらいいですか is the go-to way to ask for advice: "what would be good to do?" Swap the question word: だれに聞いたらいいですか "who should I ask?".
Phrase Breakdown
どうしたら
dou shi tara
what should (I) do / how if
どう (dou) means 'how'. したら (shitara) means 'if (I) do'. Hold the long 'dou'.
どうしたら上手になりますか。
How can I get better?
Words in this phrase
どう
dou
[doo]
how; in what way
どう asks about manner or method: 'how?' or 'what should one do?'
どういきますか。
How do you go?
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
たら
tara
[tah-rah]
if one does
Conditional form meaning if someone does something.
いのったらこころがおちつく。
If I pray, my heart becomes calm.
いいですか。
ii desu ka
is it good?
いい (ii) means 'good', so hold the long 'ii'. ですか (desu ka) makes it a polite question.
これでいいですか。
Is this okay?
Words in this phrase
いい
ii
[ee]
good; okay
Used to ask if something is acceptable or suitable.
この場所でいいですか。
Is this place okay?
です
desu
[dess]
is; am; are
A basic polite copula used to say 'is/am/are.'
田中です。
I am Tanaka.
か
ka
[ka]
question particle
Added at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.
お茶を飲みますか？
Do you drink tea?
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