How to Say ‘How can one / what should one do’ in Japanese
どうしたら
dou shi tara
[doo shi tara]
💬 Usage Tip: [どうしたら] literally means "if one does what...?" It is a natural way to ask what action should be taken next.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This pattern appears a lot in advice questions in Japan, from serious topics to everyday ones like "What should I do about my phone?"
Phrase Breakdown
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
[shi]
do
し is the stem of する, the verb 'to do.'
しごとをします。
I do work.
たら
tara
[tara]
if; when; after doing
たら is a conditional form meaning 'if' or 'when' after an action happens.
じかんがあったらいきます。
If I have time, I will go.
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