どうして (Dou shite) Meaning Japanese Grammar - What

The expression どうして (dō shite) means how?, in what way?, why? and what?.

どうして is used in questions to ask for clarification or information about a certain situation. どうして is one of the translations of the word why in Japanese.

In this post we learn more about the meaning of どうして, how it is formed, and when どうして is used through real example sentences.

How どうして is formed

This is an expression composed of:

• どう which is the interrogative adverb of the kosoado series and means how?, In what way?
• して is the verb to do in the te form (て): doing what?

Synonym for どうして is どうやって with the verb やる, which like する means to do

How and when to use どうして

どうして is used to ask for the reasons, the motivations referred to an action, a fact, a situation.

It is also used to ask the way, the manner in which an action is performed.

Can express doubts and perplexities on causes and related to a fact.

⇨ I wonder (annoyed) why they are so slow.

In situations where there is strong resistance and rejection towards something.

どうして also emphasizes a feeling or emotion towards a situation or circumstance.

どうしても - Absolutely, anyway

どうして combined with the particle も forms an adverb widely used in the language and means at any cost, by any means, in any way.

どうしても with the verb in the affirmative form

どうしても is often followed by the volitional form expressed by the suffix たい.

どうしても with the verb in the negative form

Another meaning of どうしても is despite everything, in no way and is used with verbs in negative form.

⇨ In spite of all my efforts, despite having searched for it so much, I did not find it.

Other examples of どうして

The verb in this sentence is 教(おし)える which means to teach, to instruct. Among its various meanings there is also the one of to say ,to refer, to inform.

A common word in sentences containing どうして is 疑(ぎ)問(もん): doubt, uncertainty, questioning.