どうして

also: どーして

ど

う

し

て

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

adverb

how; in what way; by what means

usually written using kana alone

Asks about the method, means, or manner of doing something. For this meaning, どうやって is often a clearer everyday equivalent.

See also: どうやって

この漢かん字じはどうして書かくんですか。
How do you write this kanji?

空くう港こうまでどうして行いけばいいですか。

How should I get to the airport?

adverb

why; for what reason; what for

usually written using kana alone

Asks for a reason or purpose. It can sound more emotional or direct than なぜ depending on tone and context.

どうして昨日きのう来こなかったの。
Why didn't you come yesterday?
どうしてそんなに急いそいでいるんですか。
Why are you in such a hurry?

adverb

cannot possibly

usually written using kana alone

Emphatic rhetorical use, often in patterns like どうして〜できようか or どうして〜ものか, meaning that something is impossible or unthinkable.

こんな大たい金きん、私わたしにどうして払はらえるものか。
How could I possibly pay such a huge sum?

interjection

no way; not at all

usually written using kana alone

Interjectional use, often repeated as どうして、どうして. It rejects an assumption or expresses strong denial; it is less central for learners than the ordinary question uses.

「もう終おわったの？」「どうして、どうして。まだ半はん分ぶんも終おわっていないよ。」
"Are you finished already?" "No way. I'm not even halfway done yet."

Kanji

如likeness, like, such as
何what

Similar words

どうやって
More specifically asks 'by what method/how'; it does not normally mean 'why'.
なぜ
A somewhat more formal or explanatory 'why'; どうして is common in everyday speech and can feel more personal or emotional.
なんで
Casual spoken 'why/how'; どうして is still conversational but less colloquial than なんで.

Etymology

Historically analyzable as どう ('how') plus して, the te-form of する ('do'), giving a sense like 'doing how' or 'in what way.' The kanji spelling 如何して uses 如何, conventionally associated with 'how/what,' but modern Japanese normally writes the word in kana.