どうしても means no matter what; by all means; at any cost; after all ~. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to express determination, an unavoidable fact, or a strong preference.
This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to express determination or an unavoidable fact, どうしても is a useful pattern to learn.
What does どうしても mean?
Use どうしても when you want to express determination, an unavoidable fact, or a strong preference.
Natural translations include:
- no matter what; at any cost; after all ~
- no matter what; by all means; at any cost; after all ~
- no matter what; at any cost
How to form どうしても
どうしても + Verb / どうしても + い-adjective / な-adjective / Noun
Examples of the pattern:
- どうしても行きたい
- どうしても必要だ
- どうしても分からない
When is どうしても used?
Use どうしても in situations like:
- making firm decisions
- explaining unavoidable situations
- insisting on something
Tone and register:
- neutral
- Common in making firm decisions, test questions, and written narratives
どうしても example sentences
- どうしても行きたい。 \u2014 I want to go no matter what.
- どうしても彼に会いたい。 \u2014 I want to see him by all means.
- どうしても分からない問題がある。 \u2014 There are problems I just can’t understand no matter what.
- どうしても諦められない。 \u2014 I can’t give up no matter what.
- どうしても必要なものだけ買う。 \u2014 I’ll only buy what is absolutely necessary.
Nuance of どうしても
The key nuance is implies unstoppable determination or an unavoidable truth; stronger than simple 必ず.
This matters because どうしても carries a sense that the speaker has tried alternatives and concluded that this is the only way. It can sound dramatic or resolute..
For example:
- In making firm decisions, it sounds natural and specific.
- Compared with 必ず, it carries a different weight and implication.
どうしても vs 必ず
Both どうしても and 必ず can express no matter what, but they are different.
どうしても:
- means no matter what; emphasizes determination or inevitability despite obstacles
必ず:
- means certainly; a neutral statement of expectation or habit
Quick contrast examples:
- 必ず行く。 \u2014 I will certainly go.
- どうしても行く。 \u2014 I will go no matter what.
Common mistakes with どうしても
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using it to mean ‘why’ in a question (that’s the separate どうして)
- Placing it in the wrong position (usually before the verb or adjective)
- Overusing it when 絶対に or 必ず would be less dramatic
Is どうしても on the JLPT?
Yes. どうしても is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for どうしても
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Say you must do something no matter what.
- Express that you can’t understand something at all.
- State that you want to meet someone by all means.
Learn どうしても with Kanjiru
If you want to review どうしても together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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