JLPT N5 · Adverb

どうして (doushite)

どうして is a Japanese adverb meaning “how; in what way”. It is usually written in kana. It appears in JLPT N5 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading: どうして
Romaji: doushite
Word class: Adverb
Level: JLPT N5 (unofficial)

Meaning

how; in what way; by what means · adverb · usually written in kana
why; for what reason; for what purpose; what for · adverb · usually written in kana
cannot possibly · adverb · usually written in kana
no way · interjection · usually written in kana · often as どうして、どうして

Example sentences

そのニュースはどうして漏れたのだろう。

How did the news get out?

Tatoeba #212836

どうしてあなたにお詫びする理由があるのですか。

Why should I apologize to you?

Tatoeba #201575

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Source: JMdict entry 1466940 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.