どうせ

どうせ
adverb
anyway; after all; no matter what
informaldescriptive
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(むり)だと思(おも)った。
I thought it was impossible anyway.
どうせ行(い)くなら早(はや)く行(い)こう。
If we're going anyway, let's go early.
どうせ暇(ひま)だから、手伝(てつだ)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(だれ)も来(こ)ないよ。
No one's going to come anyway.
頑張(がんば)ってもどうせ結果(けっか)は同(おな)じだ。
No matter how hard I try, the result will be the same.
どうせ忘(わす)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.

Functions

1. Negative resignation: どうせ無理(むり)だ (it's impossible anyway)
2. 'Might as well' reasoning: どうせ行(い)くなら早(はや)く行(い)こう (if we're going anyway, let's go early)

Common patterns

Similar words

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Informal. The resigned tone makes it inappropriate in polite or formal speech.

Related Words

Related: どのみち
Compare: いずれにせよ (in any case)
Compare: ともかく (anyway, at any rate)
Compare: どっちみち (either way)
general
Added 2026.1.17 20:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
06000/06355_douse