どう

ど

う

Meanings

1

usually written using kana alone

Broad interrogative adverb asking about manner, method, state, or suggestion. Often used in questions and embedded clauses.

〈物もの〉はどうですかhow about ~? / what do you think of ~?
このケーキはどうですか。
How about this cake?
どうやって〈動どう詞し〉how (in what way) to do something
駅えきまでどうやって行いきますか。
How do I get to the station?
どうしたら〈動どう詞し〉what should one do in order to ~
どうしたら日本にほん語ごが上手じょうずになりますか。
What should I do to get better at Japanese?
〈人ひと〉はどうしましたかwhat happened to someone; what's wrong with someone
田た中なかさんはどうしましたか。
What happened to Mr. Tanaka?
〈事こと〉をどう思おもうto ask what someone thinks about something
この計けい画かくをどう思おもいますか。
What do you think about this plan?

どうしてもby all means; at any cost; no matter what · whether one wants to or not; willy-nilly; willingly or unwillingly · by no means; not possibly; on no account · in the end; after all; eventually
どうのこうのthis and that; one thing or another
かどうかwhether or not; if
どこをどうhow; in what way; I wonder how
どうあってもno matter what; under any circumstances; at all costs

Show 4 more

こうN4
どう asks 'how' about something unknown, while こう means 'in this way' referring to something near the speaker or just mentioned.
そうN4
どう asks 'how' about something unknown, while そう means 'in that way' referring to something near the listener or previously mentioned.
ああN4
どう asks 'how' about something unknown, while ああ means 'in that way' referring to something distant from both speaker and listener.

どうしてN5
how; in what way; by what means · why; for what reason; what for · cannot possibly · no way; not at all
どうにも
(not) at all; in no way; no matter what · terribly; awfully; hopelessly
どうかN3
please; kindly; if you would · somehow or other; one way or another · whether or not; if · strange; wrong; off

どうUsage100%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
如何どうUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Rarely used kanji form; mainly encountered in formal or literary contexts.
何どうUsage<1%

The exact derivation is uncertain; it is a native Japanese interrogative adverb related to the ko-so-a-do demonstrative system.

どうした

what kind of; what; why

whatever way; any way; either way

whatever way; any way; either way

search-only kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

Search-only kanji form; not used in modern writing.

ドウUsage<1%