どうにも

どうにも

adverb

cannot do anything about; by no means; at all

expression grammatical

1. cannot do anything about; unable to handle; hopeless

indicates that something is beyond one's ability to control or manage, often used with negative expressions

どうにもならない。

There's nothing I can do about it.

眠(ねむ)くてどうにも我慢(がまん)できない。

I'm so sleepy I simply can't stand it.

この状況(じょうきょう)はどうにも手(て)の打(う)ちようがない。

There's simply no way to deal with this situation.

Usage

Typically used with negative expressions:

どうにもならない - can't do anything about it
どうにも～ない - simply cannot ~
どうにも手(て)がつけられない - can't handle it at all

Expresses helplessness or frustration at an uncontrollable situation. Stronger than simply saying できない.

Similar words

どうにか - the positive counterpart: somehow managed (どうにか間(ま)に合(あ)った)
如何(いかん)ともしがたい - beyond one's power (formal)
どうしようもない - hopeless, can't be helped
手(て)の施(ほどこ)しようがない - nothing can be done

Related Words

Compare: どうにか (somehow; barely)

Compare: どうしようもない (hopeless, can't be helped)

general

Added 2026.1.28 11:46 · Revised 2026.10.13 4:53

08500/08701_dounimo