Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 9: 20/22

どうしても
regardless of, no matter what

Structure
Verb + + どうしても
どうしても + Phrase
Details
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使用域 一般
Information
どうしても is a construction in Japanese that is often considered to be a stand-alone 副詞(ふくし) (adverb) meaning ‘no matter how’, or ‘regardless of anything’. Originally, it is a combination of the 副詞(ふくし) (adverb) どう ‘how’, and the ても form of する, しても ‘even doing’.
どうしても will regularly be used at the beginning of sentences before conveying something that is considered by the speaker to be ‘absolutely true’.
  • どうしても欲(ほ)しいのなら、自分(じぶん)買(か)いなさい
    If you want it no matter what, buy it yourself.
  • どうしても我慢(がまん)できなくて買(か)っちゃった。
    I accidentally bought it because I couldn't resist no matter what.
Alternatively, どうしても may be used after verbs, following the 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle) と. This will express that ‘if (A) happens, (B) is unavoidable’.
  • 牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)飲(の)むとどうしてもお腹(なか)痛(いた)くなるんです
    Regardless of anything, If I drink milk, I get a stomach ache.
  • 寝(ね)る前(まえ)にお腹(なか)いっぱい食(た)べるとどうしても寝(ね)れなくなっちゃうね。
    When I eat till I'm full, before I sleep, I am unable to sleep no matter what.
Fun Fact
As the closest literal meaning of どう in English is ‘any’, どうしても also translates quite accurately as ‘in any case’.
  • どうしてもヘリコプターは乗(の)りくない
    In any case, I don't want to ride a helicopter.
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どうしてお土産(みやげ)を買(か)いたい。
I want to buy a souvenir no matter what.
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食(た)べるどうして眠(ねむ)たくなる
If I eat, I get sleepy no matter what.
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どうしてアイスクリームが食(た)べたい。
I want to eat ice cream no matter what.
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Books
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 209