🍹🚫🍷❓

How to Say ‘Then how about something like a non-alcoholic cocktail?’ in Japanese

じゃあ、ノンアルコールのカクテルとかはどうですか？

jaa non'arukooru no kakuteru to ka wa dou desu ka

[jya-a nohn-ah-roo-KOH-roo noh kah-KOO-teh-roo toh kah wah doh-OH dess ka]

💬 Usage Tip: とか after a noun means "something like". It makes a suggestion sound less pushy than naming one exact thing.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Offering a no-alcohol option instead of insisting comes across as considerate. Pushing drinks on someone who hinted no is a real faux pas.

Phrase Breakdown

じゃあ、ノンアルコールの

jaa non'arukooru no

Well then, a non-alcoholic...

じゃあ means 'well then' and moves the conversation to a suggestion. ノンアルコールの describes the next noun.

Example

じゃあ、ノンアルコールのビールにします。

Well then, I'll have a non-alcoholic beer.

Words in this phrase

じゃあ

jaa

[jya-a]

well then

Informal phrase used when concluding or transitioning.

Example

じゃあ、終わりにしましょう。

Well then, let's finish.

ノンアルコール

non'arukooru

[nohn-ah-roo-KOH-roo]

non-alcoholic

Loanword from English describing drinks without alcohol.

Example

ノンアルコールビールをください。

Non-alcoholic beer, please.

の

[noh]

of; linking particle

の connects customer and handling, making the meaning 'customer handling' or 'dealing with customers.'

Example

会社の仕事です。

It is company work.

カクテルとかは

kakuteru to ka wa

cocktail or something like that

とか softens the suggestion, like 'or something'. は marks the topic. It is pronounced 'wa'.

Example

ジュースとかはどうですか？

How about juice or something?

Words in this phrase

カクテル

kakuteru

[kah-KOO-teh-roo]

cocktail

Loanword for a mixed drink.

Example

カクテルを一杯飲む。

I drink one cocktail.

と

[toh]

or something (part of とか)

First part of とか, used to give an example softly: 'things like'.

Example

お茶とかどう？

How about tea or something?

か

[kah]

or something (part of とか)

Second part of とか, softening a suggestion.

Example

映画とか見ない？

Want to watch a movie or something?

は

[wah]

topic marker; as for

Marks 'today' as the topic. Written は but pronounced 'wa.'

Example

本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for giving me your time today.

どうですか？

dou desu ka

how about it?

This is a polite suggestion phrase. Raise your voice slightly at the end.

Example

明日はどうですか？

How about tomorrow?

Words in this phrase

どう

dou

[doh-OH]

how

Adverb used to ask about manner or way.

Example

この服はどうですか？

How about this outfit?

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

か

[ka]

question particle

Indicates a question with previous verb.

Example

飲みませんか？

Won't you drink?

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