どうして
🃏 Flashcard
どうして
doushite
Tap to reveal usage
why; for what reason; how
N5
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
doushite
Post ID
50610
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
why; for what reason; how
📖 How to use it
Asks the reason or cause for something, meaning 'why' or 'for what reason'.
Attaches to
Used as a standalone adverb at the beginning of a sentence, or before a verb/adjective. No conjugation needed.
Put どうして at the start of a question when you want to know the reason something happened or is true. It is the most common and neutral way to ask 'why' in everyday Japanese. You can also place it right before the verb or adjective it modifies, like どうして来なかったの？ (Why didn't you come?). When answering, use なぜなら or から to give the reason. In casual speech, it often pairs with の at the end of the sentence to soften the question.
どうして日本に来ましたか。
Doushite Nihon ni kimashita ka.
Why did you come to Japan?
どうして宿題をしなかったの？
Doushite shukudai o shinakatta no?
Why didn't you do your homework?
どうして泣いているの？
Doushite naite iru no?
Why are you crying?
Not なぜ
なぜ is more formal and often used in writing or polite speech. どうして is common in both speaking and writing, and can sound a bit more emotional or direct.
Register
Neutral and widely used in both casual and polite conversation; in very formal writing, なぜ is preferred.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
どうして
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat どうして 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. 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 N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern どうして mean?
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Why; for what reason; how
What JLPT level is どうして?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. 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 in a sentence?
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Attach どうして (doushite) 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 formal or casual Japanese?
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どうして 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 long-term?
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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.