どうしよう
どうしよう
expression
what should I do
1.
what should I do, what am I going to do
An expression of anxiety or indecision when faced with a problem or unexpected situation. Can be a genuine question or a rhetorical expression of distress.
どうしよう、鍵がない。
What should I do — my keys are gone.
電車に乗り遅れた。どうしよう。
I missed the train. What am I going to do?
締め切りが明日なのに全然終わっていない。どうしよう。
The deadline is tomorrow but I'm nowhere near finished. What should I do?
GRAMMAR:
どうしよう is the volitional form of どうする (what to do). The volitional form expresses deliberation — "what shall I/we do?"
VARIATIONS:
- どうしよう: standard casual
- どうしましょう: polite form
- どうしようもない: there's nothing that can be done, hopeless
USAGE:
Often used as a spontaneous reaction to bad news or a sudden problem. May be repeated (どうしよう、どうしよう) to express panic.