どうでもいい
doudemo ii
The English phrase 'idc' can be expressed in Japanese as どうでもいい (doudemo ii).
どうでもいい is used to express that a person has no preference or interest in a matter.
Which one should you use?
When choosing between two specific options to show you have no preference, use どちらでもいい. In contrast, どうでもいい often carries a more negative, dismissive tone of indifference.
How do you pronounce it?
doudemo ii
Did you know?
- Using どうでもいい to a superior or a teacher can be perceived as extremely rude, as it implies the subject is beneath your concern.
- While どうでもいい expresses indifference, the phrase 気にしない is used when you are actively choosing not to be bothered by something, like a rude comment.
- Because どうでもいい can sound dismissive, Japanese speakers often soften it by adding かな at the end to make it sound like a hesitant thought rather than a cold rejection.
Examples in context
- 味は、どうでもいいです。Aji wa, doudemo ii desu.The taste doesn't matter to me.
- 結果がどうでもいいわけじゃない。Kekka ga doudemo ii wake janai.It's not that I don't care about the result.
- どっちでも、どうでもいいよ。Docchi demo, doudemo ii yo.Either way, I don't care.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 健太 Kenta晩ご飯、ピザかカレーどっちがいい？bangohan, piza ka karē dotchi ga ii?For dinner, do you want pizza or curry?
- 結衣 Yui私はどっちでもいいし、どうでもいいよ。watashi wa dotchi demo ii shi, dōdemo ii yo.Either is fine, I really don't care.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、今日はカレーにしようか。jā, kyō wa karē ni shiyō ka.Then, shall we have curry today?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、それでいいよ。un, sore de ii yo.Yeah, that works.
