“dou shite mo”: No Matter What (must) / No Matter How (can't) (strong will/inevitability) [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「どうしても会いたい」 vs 「どうしても分からない」 — “no matter what, I must” vs “no matter how, I can't.”

「どうしても会いたい」「どうしても解けない」 — 「どうしても」, “no matter what,” both ways

「どうしても彼女にもう一度会いたい」 (I want to see her once more no matter what), 「この問題がどうしても解けない」 (I just can't solve this problem no matter what) — 「どうしても」 is a strongly emphatic adverb with two exam-relevant uses, opposite in polarity: ① with volition (〜たい) = no matter what (I'm determined to); ② with a negative (〜ない) = just can't, no matter what. This guide covers both uses and separates it from 「なんとしても」.

Core: stress firm resolve, or an unchangeable result

「どうしても」 = “by any means, no matter what,” two uses:

• ① With volition (〜たい／〜ほしい) = no matter what, absolutely (want to) (firm resolve): どうしても行きたい (I want to go no matter what).
• ② With a negative (〜ない) = just can't, no matter what (an unchangeable result): どうしても解けない (just can't solve it), どうしても思い出せない (just can't remember).

Feel: extremely strong — either “I'll do it at all costs” or “no matter how I try, I can't.”

How to Connect

例句（看情境）

• どうしても、彼女にもう一度会いたい。(I want to see her once more, no matter what.) — volition
• この問題の答えが、どうしてもわからない。(I just can't figure out this answer.) — can't
• 練習を重ねたが、どうしてもうまくできない。(I practiced a lot, but just can't do it well.) — can't
• どうしても行かなければならない用事がある。(I have something I absolutely must attend to.) — necessity
• どうしても眠れない夜がある。(There are nights I just can't sleep.) — can't

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① Distinguish the two opposite uses. With 「〜たい／必要」 = no matter what (absolutely want to) (どうしても行きたい = I'll go no matter what, firm resolve); with 「〜ない」 = just can't, no matter what (どうしてもできない = just can't do it, unchangeable). The same 「どうしても」: with volition it's “determined to,” with a negative it's “just can't.”

② Very strong — don't overuse. 「どうしても」 carries a “desperate, at-all-costs” force; use it when truly determined or truly powerless. For an ordinary “want,” 「〜たい」 suffices; use どうしても only at the level of “absolutely must／just can't.”

③ 「どうしても」 vs 「なんとしても」. どうしても = no matter what (both polarities); なんとしても = at all costs, determined to (volition only, stronger, more desperate) (なんとしても勝ちたい = I want to win at all costs). なんとしても is only for “achieve it at all costs,” never with a negative.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: どうしても／なんとしても／どうやっても

💡 Quick takeaway

「どうしても」 is a strongly emphatic adverb; you must distinguish its two opposite uses: ① with volition (〜たい／必要) = no matter what, absolutely (want to) (どうしても行きたい = I'll go no matter what, firm); ② with a negative (〜ない) = just can't, no matter what (どうしても思い出せない = just can't remember, powerless). The core feel is “by every means, no matter what” — either “achieve it at all costs” or “no matter how I try, I can't.” Vs 「なんとしても (at all costs, volition only, more desperate)」, どうしても is more versatile (both ways). It's a forceful word — use it when truly determined or truly stuck, and the feeling lands.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: How do I tell 「どうしても」's two opposite uses apart?

By whether volition or a negative follows. ① With 「〜たい／〜ほしい／必要だ」 = no matter what, absolutely (want to) (strong will/resolve): どうしても行きたい (want to go no matter what), どうしても必要だ (needed no matter what). ② With 「〜ない (negative)」 = just can't, no matter what (an unchangeable result, powerlessness): どうしても解けない (just can't solve it), どうしても思い出せない (just can't remember). The same どうしても: with volition it's “determined to,” with a negative “just can't.” Test: is what follows “want to do (たい)” or “can't do (ない)”?

Q: How do I tell 「どうしても」 from 「なんとしても」?

By scope and tone. 「どうしても」 = no matter what (both ways): works with volition (どうしても行きたい = want to go no matter what) and with a negative (どうしてもできない = just can't). 「なんとしても」 = at all costs, determined to (volition only, stronger, more desperate): なんとしても勝ちたい (want to win at all costs), なんとしても成功させる (make it succeed at all costs). 「なんとしても」 carries a “whatever it takes, achieve it no matter the cost” resolve and only works with strong volition, never a negative (✗ なんとしてもできない). So: for the versatile, both-way one use どうしても; for “at all costs (volition)” use なんとしても.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「この問題の答えがどうしても___。何度考えても分からない。」(I just can't figure it out no matter what)

(A) 分かった　(B) 分からない　(C) 分かりたい　(D) 分かる

Q2. 「どうしても彼女に一度会い___。(I want to see her once no matter what; a strong desire)

(A) たくない　(B) たい　(C) たいわけではない　(D) がたい

Q3. 「練習を重ねたが、どうしても上手く___。」(I practiced a lot, but just can't do it well)

(A) なれた　(B) なれない　(C) なりたい　(D) なりそうだ

Q4. What's the difference between 「なんとしても」 and 「どうしても」?

(A) They mean exactly the same and are interchangeable.

(B) なんとしても emphasizes the means; どうしても emphasizes emotion/will.

(C) どうしても is only for affirmative sentences; なんとしても only for negative ones.

(D) なんとしても is more colloquial.

Q5. 「どうしても眠れ___夜がある。」(There are nights when I just can't sleep no matter what)

(A) る　(B) ない　(C) たい　(D) られた

Answer Explanations

1. (B) 分からない ── 「何度考えても分からない (can't understand no matter what)」= どうしても + a negative (unable to do it).

2. (B) たい ── 「どうしても会いたい」= どうしても + affirmative (a strong desire/will).

3. (B) なれない ── 「練習を重ねたが、どうしても上手くなれない」= tried hard but just can't manage it → どうしても + negative (helplessness/limit).

4. (B) ── なんとしても emphasizes the means (by any method); どうしても emphasizes emotion/will (I simply must). Both can precede affirmatives, but なんとしても stresses "by any means," while どうしても stresses "emotion/persistence."

5. (B) ない ── 「どうしても眠れない夜 (nights I just can't sleep)」= どうしても + negative (inability/helplessness).