JLPT N5 grammar · Conjunctions & Questions
どうですか: meaning, usage and examples
どうですか means: how about, how... (asking for an opinion or impression).
How to form it
＜Noun/clause＞ + は/が + どうですか
Examples
日本の生活はどうですか。
How is life in Japan?
A: このケーキ、どうですか。B: とてもおいしいです。
A: How is this cake? B: It's very delicious.
新しい仕事はどうですか。
How is your new job?
明日の午後はどうですか。
How about tomorrow afternoon?
When to use it
Asks for an opinion, impression, or reaction. Can also be used as a suggestion ('How about...?').
Nuance
どうですか is open-ended. どうでしたか asks about a past experience.
Compare
どんなですか asks about characteristics. どうですか asks how you feel about it.
Tip: As a suggestion: コーヒーはどうですか = How about some coffee? Very common in hospitality.
More in Conjunctions & Questions
- [Person/Animal] と: with [Person/Animal]
- [Noun] と [Noun]: [Noun] and [Noun] (a complete list)
- ~や~: things like... and... (an incomplete list)
- [Noun] の [Noun]: (particle indicating possession or modification)
- が/けど: but... (conjunction)
- ~から: because... (reason)
- 〜とき: when… (at the time of...)
- どんな [Noun]: what kind of [Noun]?
- 何 (なん/なに): what
- どこ(へ/に)も/何も/だれも + (Negative): not…anywhere / not...anything / no one
- どこか/何か/だれか/いつか: somewhere/something/someone/sometime
Frequently asked questions
What does どうですか mean?
How about, how... (asking for an opinion or impression). Example: 日本の生活はどうですか。 (How is life in Japan?)
How do you form どうですか?
＜Noun/clause＞ + は/が + どうですか. As a suggestion: コーヒーはどうですか = How about some coffee? Very common in hospitality.