どうでもいい

• 読み: どうでもいい
• ローマ字: dō demo ii
• 発音: /doː.de.mo.iː/

意味

Don't care, whatever, it doesn't matter — expressing indifference or dismissiveness about something.

どうでもいい is built from standard Japanese grammar: どう (how) + でも (even) + いい (good), literally meaning 'however is fine.' While grammatically standard, it carries a strong tone of indifference or dismissiveness in practice. It can range from genuinely not minding ('either is fine') to pointedly not caring ('I couldn't care less'). Tone of voice is everything.

例文

1. 正直、どうでもいいけど一応聞いてあげる。
2. あの人に何言われてもどうでもいいわ。
3. ランチどこにする？——どうでもいいよ、任せる。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily conversation, friends, arguments

トーン: dismissive, indifferent

正しい言い方

• そんな細かいこと、どうでもいいよ。 (Such minor details don't matter.)
• どうでもいいけど、あの二人また喧嘩してたよ。 (Not that I care, but those two were fighting again.)

避ける言い方

• 真剣に相談している相手に「どうでもいい」は失礼 (Saying 'dō demo ii' to someone seriously asking for advice is rude — it dismisses their concerns)

よくある間違い

• Not realising how dismissive it sounds — even if you genuinely don't mind, the phrase can come across as cold or uncaring
• Using it when you actually do have a preference — Japanese listeners may take it literally and choose for you

起源と歴史

Standard Japanese grammar construction: どう (how) + でも (even) + いい (good), literally 'however is fine.' Used across all casual registers to express indifference.

文化的背景

時代: Long-standing expression, all eras

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal casual speech

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. The phrase often appears in anime and drama as a character trait marker for aloof or tsundere personalities. In real life, tone and context determine whether it sounds relaxed or rude.