Deciding what to do
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 51 of 71Plans and invitations
Lets you ask what to do and show you are easy either way.
- dou suru?what do you want to do?; what shall we do?
- dotchi demo iieither is fine
- nani taberu?what shall we eat?; what are you having?
- awaseru yoI'll fit around you; whatever suits you
- makaseteleave it to me
Mix-ups dou suru? (what shall we do?) is not dou shiyou (what do I do?!).
dou suru?
polite dou shimasu ka
what do you want to do?; what shall we do?
Asks a friend to decide or pick between options; answer with your choice plus ni suru, or dotchi demo ii.
Dou shiyou (what do I do?) is the worried version you say to yourself.
ame da kedo, dou suru? ie de eiga miru?
It's raining. What do you want to do? Watch a movie at home?
雨だけど、どうする？家で映画見る？
ame desu ne. dou shimasu ka?
It's raining. What shall we do?
雨ですね。どうしますか？
Written どうする？ · どうする · どうしますかWho you say it and hear itHeard 4392× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
dotchi demo ii
polite dochira demo ii desu
either is fine
Tells someone you don't mind which; add yo to sound easygoing rather than bored.
Said flatly it can sound like you don't care. Nan demo ii means anything is fine.
ramen demo sushi demo, dotchi demo ii yo.
Ramen or sushi, either's fine with me.
ラーメンでも寿司でも、どっちでもいいよ。
watashi wa dochira demo ii desu yo.
Either is fine with me.
私はどちらでもいいですよ。
Written どっちでもいい · どちらでもいいですWho you say itHeard 66× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nani taberu?
polite nani tabemasu ka
what shall we eat?; what are you having?
Asks a friend what they want for a meal or what they're ordering.
With a menu in hand, nani ni suru? (what are you getting?) is just as common.
hirugohan, nani taberu? ramen?
What should we have for lunch? Ramen?
昼ご飯、何食べる？ラーメン？
kyou no hirugohan, nani tabemasu ka?
What are you having for lunch today?
今日の昼ご飯、何食べますか？
Written 何食べる？ · なにたべる · 何食べますかWho you say it and hear itHeard 7× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
awaseru yo
polite awasemasu yo
I'll fit around you; whatever suits you
Your answer when someone asks when or where to meet, handing them the choice.
Literally 'I'll match (you)'. The polite version is often 'sochira ni awasemasu'.
itsu demo ii yo. sotchi ni awaseru yo.
Any time's fine. I'll fit around you.
いつでもいいよ。そっちに合わせるよ。
watashi wa itsu demo daijoubu desu. awasemasu yo.
Any time works for me. I'll fit around you.
私はいつでも大丈夫です。合わせますよ。
Written 合わせるよ · あわせるよ · 合わせますよWho you say itHeard 13× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
makasete
polite makasete kudasai
leave it to me
Said with confidence when you take on a job someone is worried about.
Makaseru means to entrust. Omakase at a sushi bar means chef's choice.
ryouri? makasete! tokui da kara.
Cooking? Leave it to me, I'm good at it.
料理？任せて！得意だから。
sono ken wa watashi ni makasete kudasai.
Please leave that to me.
その件は私に任せてください。
Written 任せて · まかせて · 任せてくださいWho you say itHeard 1015× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles