どうしても

• Reading: どうしても
• Romaji: doushitemo
• Pronunciation: /do.ɯ.ɕi.te.mo/

Meaning

No matter what; at any cost; by all means. Expresses strong determination or an unavoidable situation.

An adverb with two main uses: (1) expressing strong will or insistence — どうしても行きたい (I want to go no matter what), and (2) expressing inability despite effort — どうしても思い出せない (I simply cannot remember). Context determines whether it conveys determination or resignation. Derived from どう (how) + して (doing) + も (even).

Examples

1. どうしても明日までに終わらせなければならない。 I absolutely have to finish this by tomorrow.
2. この問題がどうしても解けなくて困っている。 I just can't solve this problem, and it's frustrating.
3. 彼女はどうしても留学したいと言っている。 She says she wants to study abroad no matter what.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, requests, complaints

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

Compound of どう (how) + して (te-form of する) + も (even/also). Literally 'even doing however' — expressing that regardless of method, the result persists.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal