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道Nihongo Path

Word 350 of 2920

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どうせ

anyway, in any case (resigned)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. どうせ間に合わない。

    どうせまにあわない。

    We will not make it anyway.

  2. どうせ私にはできない。

    どうせわたしにはできない。

    I can't do it anyway.

  3. どうせ行くなら、早く出発しよう。

    どうせいくなら、はやくしゅっぱつしよう。

    If we're going anyway, let's leave early.

  4. どうせ捨てるのだから、使ってしまいましょう。

    どうせすてるのだから、つかってしまいましょう。

    We're going to throw it out anyway, so let's use it up.

Common patterns

どうせ無理だ
it's hopeless anyway
どうせ～なら
if it's going to be ~ anyway
どうせだめだ
it's no good anyway

Memory tip

どうせ carries a shrug: the outcome is fixed, so why bother. Said about yourself it sounds self-pitying, and said about someone else it can sound rude — the neutral "anyway" is とにかく.

Quick check

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What does どうせ mean?