どうして？
dōshite?
The English phrase "why not?" can be translated into Japanese as どうして？ (dōshite?)
どうして？ is a question used to ask for the reason why something is not the case or why something cannot happen.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "why is it not…?" in a complete and polite sentence, you typically use the structure どうして [verb in negative form] ないのですか (dōshite … For example, どうしていけないのでしょうか？ can be translated as "Why is it not possible?" and なぜできないのですか？ can be translated as "Why can't it be done?")
How do you pronounce it?
dōshite?
Did you know?
- In Japanese, if you want to say 'Why not?' as a way of suggesting 'Let's do it!', you wouldn't use 'why' at all, but rather phrases like しましょう (let's do it).
- The word どう in どうして literally translates to 'how', meaning the phrase is structurally closer to 'how come?' than a direct 'why'.
- Repeating the phrase as どうして、どうして is a common trope in Japanese drama and anime to show a character is in denial or deeply distressed.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are deciding on a restaurant for dinner.
- 結衣 Yuiイタリア料理はどう？Itaria ryouri wa dou?How about Italian food?
- 大翔 Hiroto今日はそういう気分じゃないな。Kyou wa sou iu kibun janai na.I'm not really in the mood for that today.
- 結衣 Yuiどうして？Doushite?Why not?
- 大翔 Hiroto昨日食べたからだよ。Kinou tabeta kara da yo.Because I had it yesterday.
