1.
what kind of; what sort of
An interrogative expression used to ask about the nature or type of something.
どのような is a formal way to ask 'what kind of.' It modifies a noun to ask about its nature or type.
Register
- どのような: formal/polite (business, official documents)
- どんな: casual/neutral (everyday conversation)
- いかなる: very formal/literary
Common patterns
- どのような + noun: what kind of [noun]
- どのような + noun + ですか: What kind of ~ is it?
- どのような + noun + でも: whatever kind of ~, any ~
Usage
どのような is preferred in formal writing, interviews, and business settings. In casual speech, どんな is much more natural: どんな仕事？ (What kind of job?)