Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 9: 20/22

どうしても

Regardless of, No matter what

Structure

Verb + と + どうしても
どうしても + Phrase

Details

  • Register

    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About どうしても

どうしても is a construction in Japanese that is often considered to be a stand-alone adverb meaning 'no matter how', or 'regardless of anything'. Originally, it is a combination of the 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)で買(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)ができなくて買(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 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)が痛(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)いっぱいに食(た)べるとどうしても寝(ね)れなくなっちゃうんだよね。
    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には乗(の)りたくない。
    In any case, I don't want to ride a helicopter.

Synonyms

Examples

  • どうしてもお土産(みやげ)を買(か)いたい。

    I want to buy a souvenir no matter what.

  • 食(た)べるとどうしても眠(ねむ)たくなる。

    If I eat, I get sleepy no matter what.

  • どうしてもアイスクリームが食(た)べたい。

    I want to eat ice cream no matter what.

  • 君(きみ)にどうしても伝(つた)えたいことがある。

    There is something I want to tell you, no matter what.

  • この癖(くせ)はどうしても治(なお)らない。

    No matter what I do, this habit won't go away.

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

どうしても – Grammar Discussion

    There's currently no discussion for どうしても
    Ask questions and learn together with other Bunpro users!

Join the Discussion