どうか
どうか
adverb
please, somehow
1.
please (entreaty)
Used when making a sincere request or plea.
神様、どうか助けてください。
God, please help me.
どうかお許しください。
Please forgive me.
2.
whether or not
Used to express uncertainty about whether something is the case.
本当かどうか分からない。
I don't know whether it's true or not.
どうか has two main uses:
MEANING 1 - PLEASE:
Used to make earnest requests or pleas. More emphatic than ください alone.
- どうか聞いてください: Please listen
- どうかお願いします: Please, I beg you
MEANING 2 - WHETHER:
Used with verbs to express uncertainty.
- 〜かどうか: whether or not
- 来るかどうか分からない: I don't know if they'll come
SIMILAR:
- どうぞ: please (offering/permission, less urgent than どうか)