no matter what; at any cost; after all (どうしても) – Japanese Grammar どうしても (doushitemo)

Q: What JLPT level is どうしても?

JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Q: How do you use どうしても in a sentence?

Attach どうしても to the appropriate verb or noun form. No matter what; at any cost; after all

Q: Is どうしても formal or casual Japanese?

どうしても can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

どうしても

N3 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

doushitemo

no matter what; at any cost; after all

かける kakeru によると /によれば ni yoru to/ni yoreba と言えば to ieba 合う au ばかりで bakari de とは限らない towa kagiranai において ni oite にしたがって ni shitagatte に慣れる ni nareru ために tame ni には ni wa に比べて ni kurabete 最中に saichuu ni につれて ni tsurete さらに sara ni にしても ni shite mo て済む te sumu について ni tsuite そうもない sou mo nai ないことはない nai koto wa nai かける kakeru によると /によれば ni yoru to/ni yoreba と言えば to ieba 合う au ばかりで bakari de とは限らない towa kagiranai において ni oite にしたがって ni shitagatte に慣れる ni nareru ために tame ni には ni wa に比べて ni kurabete 最中に saichuu ni につれて ni tsurete さらに sara ni にしても ni shite mo て済む te sumu について ni tsuite そうもない sou mo nai ないことはない nai koto wa nai

🃏 Flashcard

どうしても

doushitemo

Tap to reveal usage

no matter what; at any cost; after all

Tap to test your recall · +10 XP

📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N3

Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast

Reading doushitemo

Post ID 50833

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

no matter what; at any cost; after all

📖 How to use it

どうしても expresses strong determination, insistence, or an unavoidable outcome.

Attaches to Used as an adverb, typically before the verb or at the beginning of a clause. No specific conjugation required.

どうしても is an adverb that conveys a sense of 'no matter what' or 'at any cost.' It emphasizes strong will or necessity. When used in affirmative sentences, it often means 'no matter what, I will do it' or 'I absolutely must.' In negative sentences, it means 'even if I try, I cannot' or 'no matter what, it won't happen.' It can also express that something is inevitable or unavoidable, as in 'after all' or 'in the end.'

For learners, it's important to note that どうしても is often used with volitional expressions or negative forms to show determination or impossibility. For example, どうしても行きたい means 'I really want to go no matter what,' and どうしてもできない means 'I just can't do it no matter what.' It is common in both spoken and written Japanese, but it carries a strong emotional nuance.

どうしても日本に行きたいです。

Doushitemo Nihon ni ikitai desu.

I really want to go to Japan no matter what.

この仕事はどうしても今日中に終わらせなければならない。

Kono shigoto wa doushitemo kyoujuu ni owarasenakereba naranai.

I have to finish this work by today no matter what.

どうしても彼に会えない。

Doushitemo kare ni aenai.

No matter what, I can't meet him.

Not ぜひぜひ expresses a strong request or wish, but it is positive and implies hope, while どうしても emphasizes determination or inevitability. For example, ぜひ来てください means 'Please do come,' but どうしても来てください sounds more like 'You must come no matter what.'

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

どうしても

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat どうしても three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

🃏

Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using どうしても. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

⏰

Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns

to pretend; to act as if~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern どうしても mean? ▼

No matter what; at any cost; after all

What JLPT level is どうしても? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use どうしても in a sentence? ▼

Attach どうしても (doushitemo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is どうしても formal or casual Japanese? ▼

どうしても is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember どうしても long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.