What does "どうしますか" mean in English?

"どうしますか" means "What would you like to do? / What will you have?" in English. Usage tip: [どうしますか] is “What would you like (to choose)?” It’s a decision prompt.

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How to Say ‘What would you like to do? / What will you have?’ in Japanese

Q: How do you say "What would you like to do? / What will you have?" in Japanese?

"What would you like to do? / What will you have?" in Japanese is "どうしますか". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

どうしますか

dou shi masu ka

[doh shee mahss kah]

💬 Usage Tip: [どうしますか] is “What would you like (to choose)?” It’s a decision prompt.

🇯🇵 In Japan: In ordering, this usually means “What size/which option?” not “What will you do with your life?”

Phrase Breakdown

どう

dou

[doh]

how; what (way)

Used in questions about choice or preference. In shops, it often means “What would you like to do/choose?”

Example

サイズはどうしますか。

What size would you like?

します

shi masu

[shee]

do (polite)

Polite form of する (to do). Used for decisions/actions.

Example

予約します。

I’ll make a reservation.

Words in this phrase

し

shi

[shee]

do (stem of する)

Comes from する (to do). In どうしますか it forms “What will you do/choose?”

Example

ポテトはどうしますか。

What about the fries?

ます

masu

[mahss]

(polite verb ending)

Polite form used in customer service. Makes the question polite.

Example

どうしますか、セットにしますか。

What would you like to do—make it a set?

か

[kah]

question marker

Turns the phrase into a question. Very common in staff questions.

Example

ポテトはどうしますか。

What would you like for the fries?

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