Adorable yellow vending machines in Japan that sell trinkets and toys

Activities: "How to make suggestions and give advice in Japanese?"

By: Mayumi Ito
Associated Articles

These activities are part of our Japanese Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity 1: Polite form

Let’s practice making suggestions! For each action given, write two sentences in the polite form (〜ます / 〜です) according to the instructions. Then complete the English translation.

  • 水をたくさん飲む[mizu o takusan nomu](to drink a lot of water)

    ► Instruction: For (A), use 〜たほうがいい; for (B), use 〜ないほうがいい.

    • 暑い日は。
      Atsui hi wa ___.
      On hot days, .

    • 食事中は。
      Shokuji chū wa ___.
      During meal-time, .

  • ATMでおろす[ei tii emu de orosu](to withdraw it at an ATM)

    ► Instruction: For (A), use 〜たらいい; for (B), use 〜ばいい.

    • 現金が必要なら、。
      Genkin ga hitsuyō nara, ___.
      If you need cash, .

    • 現金が必要なら、。
      Genkin ga hitsuyō nara, ___.
      If you need cash, .

  • 先生に相談する[sensei ni sōdan suru](to ask your teacher for their advice)

    ► Instruction: For (A), use 〜といい; for (B), use 〜たらどうですか.

    • 困っているのなら、。
      Komatte iru no nara, ___.
      If you are in trouble, .

    • 困っているのなら、。
      Komatte iru no nara, ___.
      If you are in trouble, .

Activity 2: Pick the right form

Choose the most appropriate form for each blank.

  • 帰る[kaeru](to go home)

    ► Scenario: Two teammates in the locker room.

    • のどが痛いし、寒気がする・・・。風邪かな。
      Nodo ga itaishi, samuke ga suru…. Kaze kana.
      My throat hurts, and I have chills…. Maybe I’ve got a cold.

    • だいじょうぶ？今日は早くほうがいいよ。
      Daijōbu? Kyō wa hayaku ___ hō ga ii yo.
      Are you all right? You had better go home early today.

  • すわる[suwaru](to sit down)

    ► Scenario: A child and their grandmother in a bus.

    • あ、ここ空いてるよ。おばあちゃん、どう？
      A, koko aiteru yo. Obāchan, ___ dō?
      Oh, this seat is not taken. Why don’t you sit down (here), Grandma?

  • 買う[kau](to buy)

    ► Scenario: Two coworkers in the office.

    • そのスマホ、もう壊れたんですか。
      Sono sumaho, mō kowareta ndesu ka?
      Has that smart phone been broken already?

    • そうなんですよ。やっぱり安物はほうがいいですね。
      Sō nandesu yo. Yappari yasumono wa ___ hō ga ii desu ne.
      That’s right. We had better not buy cheap stuff after all, had we?

  • 拭く[fuku](to wipe)

    ► Scenario: Two siblings at home.

    • あっ、ジュースこぼしちゃった。どうしよう。
      A, jūsu koboshichatta. Dō shiyō.
      Oops, I spilled juice. What should I do?

    • はい、ティッシュ。これでといいよ。
      Hai, tisshu. Kore de ___ to ii yo.
      Here is some tissue paper. You should wipe it off with it.

  • 読む[yomu](to read)

    ► Scenario: A college student and their professor in a lecture hall.

    • 夏休み中に、どんな本をいいでしょうか。
      Natsuyasumichū ni, don’na hon o ___ ii deshō ka.
      What kind of books should I read during the summer break?

    • 英文科の学生なら、シェークスピア全集を読みなさい。
      Eibunka no gakusei nara, Shēkusupia zenshū o yominasai.
      As you are an English literature major, read the complete works of Shakespeare.

Activity 3: Sentences

Read each scenario and write an appropriate sentence, using one of the expressions we covered in the post. The key words are given in the word bank.

  • You and your Japanese friends have set out for a day hike to reach a mountain lake. About halfway up the trail, you see dark clouds spreading in the sky. The wind is picking up too. Some of your friends want to press on, but you, a veteran hiker, think otherwise. You offer firm advice to turn around now.

    Word Bank: 引き返す[hikikaesu](to turn back), この辺で[kono hen de](around here)

    。

    この辺で引き返したほうがいいよ。
    [Kono hen de hikikaeshita hō ga ii yo.]
    We had better turn back around here.

    The storm is coming. You foresee a bad consequence if you don’t turn back now. 〜たほうがいい is the best choice here.

  • You are working at a high-class boutique in Tokyo. One of the customers is waiting outside a fitting room, which is currently occupied. You know another one is available. You approach the customer and politely make a suggestion.

    Word Bank: お使いになる[otsukai ni naru](to use (respectful form)), 試着室[shichakushitsu](fitting room), あちらの[achira no](that…over there)

    。

    あちらの試着室をお使いになってはいかがですか。
    [Achira no shichakushitsu o otsukai ni natte wa ikaga desu ka.]
    Why don’t you use the fitting room over there?

    In the politer form, てはいかが sounds more natural than 〜たらいかが. You can also use いかがでしょうか when more formality is required (e.g., the customer is a dignitary).

  • One of your classmates at the Japanese language school wants to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5 for the first time. You have already passed it (a piece of cake!), so your friend asks you which study guide they should use. You kindly suggest trying one of the books you used yourself.

    Word Bank: 使ってみる[tsukatte miru](to try using), 本[hon](book), この[kono](this)

    。

    この本を使ってみるといいよ。
    [Kono hon o tsukatte miru to ii yo.]
    You should try using this book.

    Since you are suggesting the book as one of the possible options, and you want to sound kind, 〜といい is a better choice than 〜たら / ばいい.

  • You and your Japanese friends go out to have lunch together at a newly opened diner. The place offers various set meals that come with miso soup and rice, and they all sound delicious! Unable to decide which one to choose, you seek advice from your friends.

    Word Bank: 頼む[tanomu](to request; order), 定食[teishoku](set meal), どの[dono](which), 〜と思う？[...to omou?](do you think…?)

    と思う？

    どの定食を頼んだらいいと思う？
    [Dono teishoku o tanondara ii to omou?]
    Which set meal do you think I should order?

    Alternately you can say 頼めばいい. Since you are asking a suggestion along with a question word, 〜といい won’t sound very natural.

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