Japanese word

いかが

Pronunciation

Romajiikaga

Meaning

  • adverbhow about ___

Example

お茶はいかがですか。o cha wa i ka ga de su ka

How about tea?

Illustration for いかが (how about ___)

More examples

こちらの料理の味はいかがですか。ko chi ra no ryō ri no aji wa i ka ga de su ka

How does this dish taste?

Core concept

Presents a polite way to ask how something is or to offer it as a possible choice.

Common phrases

  • いかがですかi ka ga de su ka

    how about ___

Similar words

どうdō: Asks how something is or suggests an option in a casual or neutral way.

Definition in Japanese

相手に物事の具合を尋ねたり、選択肢を示して意向を尋ねたりする語。ai te ni mono goto no gu ai o tazu ne ta ri sen taku shi o shime shi te i kō o tazu ne ta ri su ru go

Word origin

いかが (ikaga) is an old Japanese form that developed from いかにか (ikani ka), meaning "how?"

Usage tips

  • English speakers may recognize いかがですか (ikaga desu ka) as a polite question, but in everyday offers it commonly means "How about...?" rather than asking only about a condition.

Other meanings

  • howadverb

Word lists with this word