どう

• Reading: どう
• Romaji: dou
• Pronunciation: /doː/

Meaning

How; in what way; how about. The question word for manner and opinion.

The interrogative member of the ko-so-a-do manner series. Used to ask about methods (どうやって), opinions (どうですか = how is it?), and states (どうしましたか = what happened?). Also appears in many compound expressions like どうも (very/somehow) and どうぞ (please go ahead).

Examples

1. 週末はどうでしたか。 How was your weekend?
2. この服はどう思いますか。 What do you think of this outfit?
3. 体の調子はどうですか。 How are you feeling?

Usage Guide

Context: questions, opinions, greetings

Tone: inquisitive

Origin & History

From the ancient ko-so-a-do demonstrative system. どう is the interrogative 'do' form, used to question manner. Related to classical Japanese いかに (ikani, how).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal