“dou” Patterns: dou naru・dou sureba・dou 〜 (how/what way) [JLPT N3]

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

The various sentence patterns built with どう (how)

どうなる? どうすれば? — the versatile 「どう」 question patterns

「これからどうなるの？」 (what will happen from here?) 「どうすればいい？」 (what should I do?) — the question word 「どう」 asks about manner, state, or outcome (how, in what way), and combined with different words it forms handy patterns: どうなる = what will become of it, どうする = what do you plan to do, どうすれば = what should one do, どう ＋ verb = how to…. This guide covers the 「どう」 patterns and separates them from 「どうやって／どうして／いかが」.

Core: a versatile question word for “manner/state/outcome”

「どう」 = “how, in what way” — not what (何) or where (どこ), but manner, appearance, what will happen:

• どうなる = what will it become (asking the outcome): 試合はどうなった？
• どうする = what do you plan to do (asking intent): これからどうする？
• どうすれば（いい） = what should one do (seeking a method): どうすれば直る？
• どう ＋ verb = how…: どう思う？ (what do you think?)

Common Combinations

See it in context

• この機械、どう使えばいいですか。(How should I use this machine?) — asking a method
• これからどうなるんだろう。(I wonder what will happen from here.) — asking an outcome
• どうすれば問題が解決できますか。(What should I do to solve the problem?) — seeking a method
• 週末はどうするの？(What are you doing this weekend?) — asking intent
• この件、どう思いますか。(What do you think about this matter?) — asking an opinion

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「どうして」 is not “how to do,” but “why.” どうして = why (asking a reason) (どうして遅れたの = why were you late); for “what to do,” use どうすれば／どうしたら (どうすればいい = what should I do). Don't take 「どうして (why)」 as “how to do.”

② 「どう」 (state/how) vs 「どうやって」 (a concrete method/means). どう = broadly asking ‘how, in what way' (どう思う = what do you think, どうなる = what will happen); どうやって = asking a concrete ‘method, means' (by what way you do it) (どうやって行く = how do you get there (by what), どうやって作る = how do you make it (steps)). For “a concrete means,” use どうやって.

③ Ask an opinion politely with 「いかが」. 「どう」 is casual; when politeness is needed toward seniors or guests, use いかが (コーヒーはいかがですか = would you like some coffee, ご気分はいかがですか = how are you feeling). いかが is the polite version of 「どう」.

🔄 Compare with similar forms: どう／どうやって／どうして／いかが

💡 How to remember this

The 「どう」 family is super high-frequency in daily life, at its core asking “manner, state, outcome” (how, in what way): どうなる (what will happen, asking outcome), どうする (what do you plan to do), どうすれば（いい） (what should one do, seeking a method), どう思う (what do you think, asking opinion). Three easy trip-ups: ① どうして = why (reason), not “how to do” (“how to do” is どうすれば); ② a concrete means uses どうやって (どうやって行く = how do you get there); ③ ask an opinion politely with いかが (いかがですか). Master these どう's and daily “what do I do, what'll happen, how is it” all click.

❓ Common questions

Q: How do I tell 「どうして」 from 「どうすれば」? (both have どう)

Completely different meanings! 「どうして」 = why (asking a reason): どうして会社を辞めたの？ (why did you quit? — asking a reason), どうして泣いているの？ (why are you crying?). It asks the “reason,” equal to 「なぜ」. 「どうすれば（いい）」 = what should one do (seeking a method, solution): どうすれば日本語が上手になりますか (what should I do to improve my Japanese? — seeking a method), どうすればいいか分からない (I don't know what to do). It asks the “method, the action to take.” So: “why (a reason)” → どうして; “what to do (a method)” → どうすれば／どうしたら. Learners often mistake 「どうして」 for “how to do” — remember どうして = why (= なぜ), and seeking a solution uses どうすれば.

Q: How do I tell 「どう」 from 「どうやって」?

By “broadly asking a state/outcome” vs “asking a concrete method/means.” 「どう」 = broadly asking ‘how, in what way' (state, outcome, impression): この料理、どう？ (how's this dish? — impression), これからどうなるの？ (what will happen? — outcome), どうしたらいい？ (what should I do? — seeking a method, broadly). 「どうやって」 = asking a concrete ‘method, means, steps' (by what way): 駅までどうやって行きますか (how do you get to the station? — asking transport: by what, which route), これ、どうやって作るの？ (how do you make this? — asking the steps). So: “how, in what way (impression/outcome)” → どう; “by what concrete method/means” → どうやって. 「どう行く」 also works, but when stressing “by what specifically, which route,” どうやって is more precise.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「この機械、___使えばいいですか。」(how should I use it)

(A) どう　(B) どこ　(C) いつ　(D) だれ

Q2. 「これから___んだろう。」(what will happen from now on)

(A) どうなる　(B) どうする　(C) どうso　(D) どうした

Q3. What does 「どうすればいいか分からない」 mean?

(A) I don't know what to do

(B) I know what to do

(C) I don't want to do it

(D) Already finished

Q4. Which is most appropriate for politely asking someone's opinion?

(A) いかがですか

(B) どうだ

(C) どうよ

(D) どうした

Q5. Which usage is natural?

(A) どうしたらいいですか。　(B) どうすればだ。

(C) どうなるすれば。　(D) どうをする。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) どう ── How should I use it (どう＋使えば).

2. (A) どうなる ── What will happen.

3. (A) ── I don't know what to do.

4. (A) いかがですか ── Politely asking an opinion.

5. (A) ── 「どうしたらいいですか」 is a set phrase.