どう

Ask how something is, or suggest an option

どう (dou) means “how.” In どうですか, it can ask how something is or what someone thinks of it. With a suggested time or thing, it can mean “how about…?”

Ask for an opinion or an update

どうですか (どうですか) · dou desu ka

Put the topic before はどうですか. For example, このお茶はどうですか asks how the tea is. 日本語の勉強はどうですか asks how someone’s Japanese study is going.

Make a suggestion

明日はどうですか (あしたはどうですか) · ashita wa dou desu ka

When you are choosing a time to meet, this means “How about tomorrow?” The conversation tells you whether どうですか is asking for an opinion or making a suggestion.

どうして (doushite) asks “why” and looks for a reason. It is a different question word. Use どうですか for “how is it?” or “how about it?”