How to Say ‘What should I do if it's full?’ in Japanese
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
mansha no toki wa dou sure ba ii desu ka
[mahn-shah noh toh-kee wah doh soo-reh bah ee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: [〜のときは、どうすればいいですか] is a very useful pattern for asking what to do in a situation. Swap in the situation before [のときは], like [満車のときは] or [遅れるときは].
Phrase Breakdown
満車のときは
mansha no toki wa
when the parking lot is full
Refers to the situation where no parking spaces are available.
満車のときは、別の場所に停めてください。
When it's full, please park elsewhere.
Words in this phrase
満車
mansha
[mahn-shah]
full; no vacancy for cars
Describes a parking lot with no available spaces.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
の
no
[noh]
of
Connects 満車 and とき to form 'when it is full.'
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
とき
toki
[toh-kee]
time; when
Refers to the situation or time when something happens.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
Marks 'when it is full' as the topic of the question.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
どうすればいいですか
dou sure ba ii desu ka
what should I do?
A polite way to ask for advice or instructions.
この場合、どうすればいいですか。
What should I do in this case?
Words in this phrase
どう
dou
[doh]
how; what
Starts a question asking what action is best.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
すれ
sure
[soo-reh]
if do
Part of the conditional phrase すれば.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
ば
ba
[bah]
if
Completes the conditional expression in the question.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
いい
ii
[ee]
good; okay
Means 'would be good' in this 'what should I do' pattern.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence element used before the question marker.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Makes the whole sentence a polite question.
満車のときは、どうすればいいですか。
If it is full, what should I do?
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