using the term "would you like..."

In lesson 2.1, when asking "would you like a brochure" it is ikaga desu ka. Later in lesson 2.3 "would you like a room" it is dochira ga yoroshii desu ka. Why are they so different? Couldn't you just say "singuru ruma ka daburu rumu ikaga desu ka?

Konnichiwa! :D :idea: *Ikaga desu ka? *is a question phrase that asks : _"Would you like...?" _ :idea: *Dochira ga yoroshii desu ka?* asks _"Which would you like, [this or that]?" _ or _Which do you prefer [this one or that one]?_ Therefore, *Singuru rūmu ka daburu rūmu, __ikaga desu ka?__ *asks _"__Would you like__ a single or a double room?"_ :arrow: This is a _*__Yes__ or __No__*_ question - and does not ask for a specific choice to be made. On the other hand... *Singuru rūmu to daburu rūmu to, __dochira ga yoroshii desu ka?__ *asks _"__Which one would you like__, a single or a double room?"_ or _"__Which do you prefer__, a single or a double room?"_ :arrow: This is clearly NOT a _*__Yes__ or __No__*_ question, but asks you to _*__choose between two items__*_. So, *Dochira* is used to ask "which one" and only when there are two choices. "Would you like a room?" is a _*__Yes__*_ or _*__No__*_ question, so the correct way to ask this in Japanese is *Heya wa ikaga desu ka?* :idea: However, if you have a choice to offer, in this case, single room or double room, and the context suggests the client (Kenny) has decided he needs a room already - it is correct to ask: *Singuru rūmu to daburu rūmu to, __dochira ga yoroshii desu ka?__ * I hope this helped! Soredewa, may you learning be enjoyable. Mata ne! :D

It helps alot, thanks. I listen to these lessons over and over in my car during my long commute. Sometimes I don't pick up on the subtleties of the language, but I try to later pick it apart and just wasn't seeing it. Thanks alot!

Konnichiwa! This is what we're here for! To help enthusiastic learners like yourself to enjoy learning Japanese! We're delighted to hear that you are listening to the lessons over and over again. This is very important. Repetition is a key to remembering all the new vocabulary and phrases you learn throughout the lessons. We hope that your long commute is enjoyable as you learn Japanese with us. Gambatte kudasai! You can do it! :D

In lesson 2.4, Catching A Ride, the term for "Would you like to ride together?" also sounds different, even tho the word like is being used. Is that becuase it's not specifically using the word like, but more the concept of like? Does it sound different because now it's not giving you a choice? It's a yes or no question, but again it sounds different. In 1.3 "do you like sushi?" is again referencing the word like, but sounds different. Makes it hard for me to know and remember the right time and way to use the term "like".

Konnichiwa! Let's take the different lines using the term "like" when translating it into English: Lesson 1.3 *O sushi wa __suki__ desu ka?* _"Do you __*LIKE*__ sushi?"_ The Word-for-Word translation is: *Sushi wa* - _Sushi is_ *Suki* - _like _ *desu ka?* - _do [you]?_ :arrow: In this example - the term "_Like_" is used in the literal sense - using the Japanese word *Suki*. *Suki desu* translates as "_I like_" used to express the things you enjoy doing, eating, watching and such. Lesson 2.2 *Ēgo no panhuretto wa __ikaga desu ka__?* _"*__Would you like__* an English brochure?"_ :arrow: It's best to memorize *Ikaga desu ka?* as a set expression to ask "Would you like [such and such]" The word *Ikaga* is the polite form of *Dō* which translates as "_how_" or "_what_" So, literally, there is no equivalent of "like" in the phrase *__ikaga desu ka__*- a more closer literal translation would be: "_How about an English brochure?_" However, in Japanese, this question does not sound so abrupt and direct so we have translated it to "_Would you like en English brochure?_" which carries a more indirect, softer tone. Lesson 2.3 *Heya o yoyaku __shitai__ no desu ga.* _"__*I’d like*__ to book a room."_ :arrow: Here again - the literal translation should be: "_I want to book a room._" where *Shitai* translates as "_I want to do_" - Just like *Tabetai*, "I_ want to eat_" and *Nomitai*, "_I want to drink_" :idea: The reason we have translated this phrase as "I'd like to..." instead of "I want to" is due to the ending *__no desu ga__*. When you want to tell someone what you want - adding the ending *no desu ga*or the more colloquial *n desu ga* - shows your willingness to listen to your listener's comments or opinions. It sounds more inviting and friendly than simple saying: *Yoyaku o shitai desu*. "_I WANT to book a room_" - this phrase actually sounds too blunt and demanding in Japanese. Lesson 2.4 *Ai nori __shimasu ka__?* _"__*Would you like*__ to ride together?"_ :arrow: Translated word-for-word this would be: "_Ride together - do you do?_" where *Shimasu ka* is asking the question "do you do?" However - the more proper translation based on the context is "Would you like to?" or "Won't you?" So, in this case, the word "like" has not been literally translated from the Japanese phrase - but is implied. :wink:

As difficult as it sounds, the meaning behind what is being said is why I'm enjoying this language so much. Very poetic. The meanings and what is implied an how something is said. Thanks again for clearing it up. I'm sorry that my understanding has been so "literal" but knowing only english is a hard habit to break :D