どうせ
どうせ
adverb
anyway; after all; no matter what
1.
anyway; after all; in any case
Indicates that something will happen or be true regardless of circumstances, often with a resigned or fatalistic tone.
どうせ無理だと思った。
I thought it was impossible anyway.
どうせ行くなら早く行こう。
If we're going anyway, let's go early.
どうせ暇だから、手伝うよ。
I'm free anyway, so I'll help.
2.
no matter what; regardless; either way
Suggests that the outcome will be the same regardless of action taken, sometimes with negative nuance.
どうせ誰も来ないよ。
No one's going to come anyway.
頑張ってもどうせ結果は同じだ。
No matter how hard I try, the result will be the same.
どうせ忘れるんだから、メモしておこう。
I'll forget anyway, so let me write it down.
どうせ conveys resignation or fatalism — the speaker believes the outcome is already determined, regardless of effort or circumstances.
TWO MAIN USES:
1. Negative resignation: どうせ無理だ (it's impossible anyway)
2. 'Might as well' reasoning: どうせ行くなら早く行こう (if we're going anyway, let's go early)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- どうせ〜だから: since ~ anyway
- どうせ〜なら: if ~ anyway (then might as well)
- どうせ無理だ: it's impossible anyway
SIMILAR WORDS:
- どのみち: anyway, either way (more neutral, less emotional)
- いずれにせよ: in any case (formal)
- ともかく: anyway, at any rate (shifts topic)
REGISTER:
Informal. The resigned tone makes it inappropriate in polite or formal speech.
Related Words
Related:
どのみち