Grammar Info
N2 Lesson 1: 5/21

どうせ
anyhow・ at any rate, in any case, I have no doubt that, probably

Structure
どうせ + Phrase
Details
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使用域 一般
Information
どうせ is a 副詞(ふくし) (adverb) used in Japanese to express that some particular state or condition of (A) will result in (B). Usually, there is no way to stop (B) from happening, and it is considered a natural consequence of (A). In English, this translates closely with phrases like ‘at any rate’, or ‘in any case’.
Being an adverb, どうせ most often appears at the beginning of sentences, before going on to describe to inevitable situation.
  • どうせまたパチンコに行(い)くんでしょ。
    In any case, you are going to the pachinko parlor, aren’t you?
  • どうせ私(わたし)のことなんて好(す)きじゃないんでしょ。
    In any case, you probably don’t even like someone like me.
どうせ often carries the nuance of frustration or resignation that (A) cannot be changed. In these cases, it is often paired with other grammar structures such as なら or だから. This shows that if (A) cannot be changed, then (B) is a good idea. This usage translates similarly to ‘if (A), you might as well (B)’.
  • どうせ新(あたら)しいスマホを買(か)うならもうちょっといい奴(やつ)買(か)いなよ。
    If you are going to buy a new smartphone, you might as well buy something a little better.
  • どうせまた負(ま)けるんだから頑張(がんば)っても時間(じかん)と体力(たいりょく)の無駄(むだ)だよ。
    We are going to lose again anyways, so trying our best would be a waste of time and energy.
Fun-fact - This grammar structure comes from a combination of どう ‘how’, and the 命令形(めいれいけい) ‘imperative form’ of する, せよ. In this way, it is just emphasizing that no matter ‘how (A) is done’, the result cannot be changed.
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どう車(くるま)買(か)うのなら、ヒーターシートが付(つ)いているのを買(か)おう!
If we are buying a car anyway, let's buy one with heated seats.
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この試験(しけん)の難(むずか)しさから考(かんが)えると、どう失敗(しっぱい)するに決(き)まっている。
Judging from the difficulty of the exam, I have no doubt that my failure has been decided.
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私(わたし)どう謝(あやま)っても、どう彼(かれ)は許(ゆる)すつもりはないだろう。
No matter how much I apologize, I have no doubt that he won't forgive me.
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JapaneseTest4You
Books
A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
Page 41