Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
‘Doushitemo’ (どうしても) translates to ‘no matter what,’ ‘at any cost,’ ‘by all means,’ or ‘no matter how hard one tries.’ It is used to emphasize a strong desire or an unavoidable result despite effort.
🎯 Primary Function
Emphasizing the persistence of a desire or the inevitability of a situation despite effort.
📋 Grammar Structure
どうしても + Verb (Positive Desire/Volitional/Potential)
No specific structure; used with potential or emotional i-adjectives.
No specific structure; used with potential or emotional na-adjectives.
どうしても + Verb (Negative/Potential Negative) / Adjective (Negative)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in business or formal speech when expressing strong requests or unavoidable delays.
Informal Situations
Extremely common in daily conversation for expressing frustrations or strong wants.
Written Language
Used in literature, essays, and letters to convey emotional weight.
Spoken Language
Frequent in spoken Japanese to add emphasis.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Strong Desire
Used with volitional forms like ~tai to show a firm resolution.
Example: どうしても留学したい。 (I want to study abroad no matter what.)
Expressing Inability despite Effort
Used with negative potential forms to show that effort is being made but failing.
Example: どうしても思い出せない。 (I can’t remember no matter how hard I try.)
Natural/Unavoidable Consequences
Used to express that a certain outcome is inevitable regardless of external factors.
Example: どうしても時間がかかる。 (It will inevitably take time.)
Frequency
High
Difficulty
N3
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
来年、どうしても日本に行きたいです。
Furigana: らいねん、どうしてもにほんにいきたいです。
Romaji: Rainen, doushitemo Nihon ni ikitai desu.
English: I want to go to Japan next year no matter what.
Example #2
彼の名前がどうしても思い出せません。
Furigana: かれのなまえがどうしてもおもいだせません。
Romaji: Kare no namae ga doushitemo omoidasemasen.
English: No matter how hard I try, I can’t remember his name.
Example #3
この試合にどうしても勝ちたいです。
Furigana: このしあいにどうしてもかちたいです。
Romaji: Kono shiai ni doushitemo kachitai desu.
English: I must win this match at any cost.
Example #4
彼ぜなぜあんなことを言ったのか、どうしてもわかりません。
Furigana: かれがなぜあんなことをいったのか、どうしてもわかりません。
Romaji: Kare ga naze anna koto o itta no ka, doushitemo wakarimasen.
English: I just can’t understand why he said such a thing.
Example #5
ドアがどうしても開きませんでした。
Furigana: ドアがどうしてもあきませんでした。
Romaji: Doa ga doushitemo akimasen deshita.
English: No matter what I did, the door wouldn’t open.
Example #6
ダイエット中ですが、どうしても甘いものがやめられません。
Furigana: ダイエットちゅうですが、どうしてもあまいものがやめられません。
Romaji: Daietto chuu desu ga, doushitemo amai mono ga yameraremasen.
English: I’m on a diet, but I just can’t stop eating sweets.
Example #7
彼のことがどうしても許せません。
Furigana: かれのことがどうしてもゆるせません。
Romaji: Kare no koto ga doushitemo yurusenai.
English: I can’t forgive him no matter what.
Example #8
真面目な場面なのに、どうしても笑いが止まりませんでした。
Furigana: まじめなばめんなのに、どうしてもわらいがとまりませんでした。
Romaji: Majime na bamen na no ni, doushitemo warai ga tomarimasen deshita.
English: Even though it was a serious situation, I couldn’t stop laughing.
Example #9
どうしても彼女に会わなければなりません。
Furigana: どうしてもかのじょにあわなければなりません。
Romaji: Doushitemo kanojo ni awanakereba narimasen.
English: I have to see her no matter what.
Example #10
この問題はどうしても解決しません。
Furigana: このもんだいはどうしてもかいけつしません。
Romaji: Kono mondai wa doushitemo kaiketsu shimasen.
English: This problem just won’t be solved no matter what.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Strong correlation with desire forms.
When used in positive sentences, it almost always pairs with a form of desire (~tai).
Example: どうしても会いたい (I want to meet you no matter what.)
Nuance of ‘despite effort’.
In negative sentences, it implies that you have tried or considered all options but still failed.
Example: どうしてもできない (I just can’t do it.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ‘Zettai ni’ when ‘Doushitemo’ is more appropriate for internal struggle.
✅ どうしても行きたい (Doushitemo ikitai)
‘Doushitemo’ expresses a subjective desire or an outcome despite effort. ‘Zettai ni’ is a more general ‘absolutely’ and doesn’t always carry the nuance of ‘trying hard.’
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral; its politeness depends on the ending of the sentence (e.g., ~desu/~masu vs. dictionary form).
Social Situations: Often used when apologizing for something that couldn’t be helped despite your best efforts.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; understood nationwide.
🔍 Subtle Differences
どうしても (Doushitemo) vs. ぜったいに (Zettai ni)
‘Doushitemo’ implies a process of trying or an inner urge, whereas ‘Zettai ni’ is a flat declaration of ‘absolutely.’
When to use: Use ‘Doushitemo’ for internal feelings or situations that feel beyond control despite trying.
📝 Conjugation Notes
‘Doushitemo’ is an adverb and does not conjugate itself. It modifies the verb or adjective that follows.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The ‘o’ sounds are short. Ensure the ‘mo’ at the end is clearly voiced to distinguish it from the question word ‘doushite’.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Doushitemo’ as ‘Even (mo) if I do (shite) it how (doushi)’. No matter how I do it, the result is the same.
Other Grammar
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