“〜ikaga (desu ka)”: How Is It? / How About It? (a polite inquiry) [JLPT N4]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「お茶はいかがですか」「お加減はいかがですか」 — the polite どう, for offers and inquiries.

「お飲み物はいかがですか」 — the polite version of 「どう」

A server asks 「コーヒーはいかがですか」 (would you care for some coffee?) — 「いかが（ですか）」 is the polite, formal version of 「どう（ですか）」, used to courteously ask someone's opinion or condition, or to offer (would you like ~?). Same meaning as 「どう」, but more polite — for serving guests, seniors, and business. This guide covers いかが and separates it by setting from the colloquial 「どう」.

Core: politely asking “how?／would you like?”

「いかが（ですか）」 = the formal version of 「どう（ですか）」, with three common uses:

• Asking an opinion／impression: 味はいかがですか (how's the taste?).
• Asking about condition: お加減はいかがですか (how are you feeling?).
• Offering (would you like ~?): コーヒーでもいかがですか (would you like some coffee?).

Feel: courteous and formal, for guests and superiors.

How to Connect

Examples in context

• お客様、お飲み物はいかがですか。(Would you care for a drink, sir/madam?) — offering a guest
• お加減はいかがですか。(How are you feeling?) — concern
• 週末、旅行でもいかがですか。(How about a trip this weekend?) — invitation
• 少し休んではいかがですか。(Why not take a little rest?) — gentle suggestion
• こちらのお料理、お味はいかがでしたか。(How was this dish?) — asking an impression

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① Don't overuse いかが with friends. 「いかが」 is quite formal; with friends it sounds standoffish and stiff. Use 「どう？」 with friends (コーヒーどう？); save いかが for guests, seniors, and business.

② 「いかがですか」 both offers and asks. It can be “would you like ~ (offering)” or “how is ~ (asking an impression)” — by context. Serving guests, it's usually an offer.

③ 「〜てはいかがですか」 = a gentle suggestion. 休んではいかがですか = why not take a rest (gentler and more polite than 「休んだほうがいい」), great for suggesting to superiors.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: いかが／どう／どうですか

💡 Quick takeaway

「いかが」 is the polite upgrade of 「どう」 — same meaning, but for guests, seniors, and business, 「いかがですか」 is more fitting than 「どうですか」. Two useful lines: offer a guest with 「〜はいかがですか」 (お飲み物はいかがですか); suggest gently with 「〜てはいかがですか」 (少し休んではいかがですか, politer than ほうがいい). But don't overuse いかが with friends (too standoffish) — 「どう？」 is fine there. Match the setting and the respect lands right.

❓ Common questions

Q: 「いかが」 vs 「どう」?

Exactly the same meaning (how／would you like), differing in formality: 「いかが（ですか）」 is the formal, courteous version (guests, seniors, business: お飲み物はいかがですか); 「どう（ですか）」 is the general／colloquial version (friends, peers: コーヒーどう？). The more formal/senior the audience, use いかが; with friends, どう is fine — forcing いかが sounds distant.

Q: What's the 「〜てはいかがですか」 usage?

A gentle suggestion “why not ~” (verb て-form ＋ はいかがですか): 少し休んではいかがですか = why not take a little rest. It's gentler and more polite than 「〜たほうがいい (better to ~)」, great for suggesting to seniors, bosses, or guests without sounding like you're “instructing” them.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「お茶___ですか。」(Would you like some tea? — polite invitation)

(A) はいかが　(B) でも　(C) ばかり　(D) より

Q2. What is the most polite form of 「いかがですか」?

(A) いかがでしょうか　(B) どうですか　(C) どう　(D) いかがだ

Q3. What does 「お加減はいかがですか」 mean?

(A) How are you feeling (health)?

(B) Where are you going?

(C) How much is this?

(D) What is your name?

Q4. Which correctly states the difference between 「いかが」 and 「どう」?

(A) いかが = polite (to seniors/guests); どう = casual spoken (to friends)

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) いかが is less polite

(D) どう is honorific (keigo)

Q5. Which situation is appropriate?

(A) お客様にお飲み物はいかがですか。　(B) 友達に「ご機嫌いかがでしょうか」と毎回言う。

(C) 上司に「どう?」とタメ口。　(D) 客に「飲む?」とタメ口。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) はいかが ── noun＋はいかがですか (polite invitation).

2. (A) いかがでしょうか ── The most polite.

3. (A) ── お加減はいかが = asking about health.

4. (A) ── いかが is polite; どう is casual.

5. (A) ── いかが is most appropriate for a guest; (B) is excessive for a friend, (C)(D) are rude to a boss/guest.