1.
how; in what way; in what manner
A somewhat formal way to ask "how?" or "in what way?" Built from どの (which) + ように (like, in the manner of). Used to ask about the manner, method, or process by which something is done. More polite and written-style than the casual どう.
A formal or written equivalent of どう. Composed of どの (which, what kind of) and ように (like, in the manner of). Asks about the manner, method, process, or degree of something.
Usage
- Used in surveys, interviews, essays, business communication, and polite spoken Japanese
- Typically followed by a verb: どのように + verb
- Can also precede a noun as どのような (what kind of), though どのように is the adverbial form
Register: Formal / neutral-polite. More formal than どう; slightly less stiff than いかに (archaic/literary).
Common collocations
- どのように考えますか: how do you think about it?
- どのように説明しますか: how would you explain it?
- どのように使うか: how to use it
- どのように変わったか: how it changed
Similar words
- どう: how — casual, spoken equivalent; much more common in conversation
- いかに: how, to what degree — literary or archaic; more formal than どのように
- どんなふうに: how, in what way — a casual spoken equivalent that is slightly softer than どう
- どのような: what kind of — the adnominal form; modifies a noun rather than a verb