How to Say ‘What should we do?’ in Japanese
何をしたらいいの？
nani o shi tara ii n
[nah-nee oh shee tah-rah ee noh]
💬 Usage Tip: [〜たらいい] means “it would be good if...” and is often used for advice. So [何をしたらいいの？] means “What should I/we do?”
🇯🇵 In Japan: This pattern is very useful in daily life too, not only in religious talk. Try [どうしたらいいの？] for “What should I do?”
Phrase Breakdown
何を
nani o
what
Marks the thing or action being asked about.
何を食べますか。
What will you eat?
Words in this phrase
何
nani
[nah-nee]
what
Question word meaning what.
何がひつようですか。
What is necessary?
を
o
[oh]
object marker
Particle marking the direct object.
みずをのむ。
Drink water.
したら
shi tara
if I do / when I do
A conditional form used to ask what action is appropriate.
どうしたらいいですか。
What should I do?
Words in this phrase
し
shi
[shee]
do
Verb stem of する, meaning do.
よいことをしよう。
Let’s do good things.
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.
いいの？
ii n
is good? / should I?
Asks for advice or the right course of action in a casual way.
今、行っていいの？
Is it okay to go now?
Words in this phrase
いい
ii
[ee]
good; okay
Means good, fine, or okay.
それでいいです。
That is fine.
の
n
[noh]
question/explanatory nominalizer
Sentence-ending の softens the question and adds explanation.
どうするの。
What will you do?
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