どうも

Japanese

Etymology

Derived as compound of どう (dō, “how”, question word) +‎ も (mo, “ever, even, also”, particle). Literal meaning is close to "no matter how, howsoever, in all cases". Idiomatically and semantically used as an intensifier in specific contexts. Compare とても (totemo, “very”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: [do̞ːmo̞]

Interjection

どうも (romaji dōmo)

1. no matter how, not at all (used with a negative verb)

   どうも理解できない。

   どうもりかいできない。
   Dōmo rikai dekinai.

   No matter how, I can't understand it. → I just can't understand it.

2. somehow, something

   どうもこの人の話し方が変だ。

   どうもこのひとのはなしかたがへんだ。
   Dōmo kono hito no hanashikata ga hen da.

   This person's way of talking is strange somehow. / There's something strange in how this person talks.

3. quite, very much

   あの商人はどうもしつこいよね。

   あのあきんどはどうもしつこいよね。
   Ano akindo wa dōmo shitsukoi yo ne.

   That shopkeeper is quite persistent, isn't he.

4. (short for どうもありがとう (dōmo arigatō)) thanks
5. (short for どうもすみません (dōmo sumimasen)) sorry, excuse me

Usage notes

Expressions of thanks are given below in rough order of casual to polite. Note that gozaimasu changes to gozaimashita when referring to events in the past.

Coordinate terms

• どうも (dōmo)
• ありがとう (arigatō)
• どうもありがとう (dōmo arigatō)
• ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu)
• どうもありがとうございます (dōmo arigatō gozaimasu)