どう

N5

どう

dou

どう (how)

N5

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Explanation

どう means “how.” It is used to ask about manner, condition, or opinion. It can also be used to ask “how is it?” or “how do you do it?” Key points: • どう + Verb = how (do something) • どうですか = how is it? • どうやって = how to do (more specific) • Common in daily conversation Example: “どう行きますか” means “How will you go?” “この映画はどうですか” means “How is this movie?” It is a very flexible question word. Use it to ask about feelings, health, or methods. Practice with simple questions: どうしますか, どうやって作りますか.

Structure

Pattern
どう + Verb / どうですか
どうHow
Examples: どう
Verb/ですかAction or description
Examples: 行きますか, しますか, ですか

Examples

Example 1
どう行きますか。
Dou ikimasu ka.
How will you go?
Breakdown
どうhow
行きますgo
question marker
Note: Manner
Example 2
この映画はどうですか。
Kono eiga wa dou desu ka.
How is this movie?
Breakdown
このthis
映画movie
topic marker
どうhow
ですis
question marker
Note: Opinion
Example 3
日本語はどうですか。
Nihongo wa dou desu ka.
How is Japanese?
Breakdown
日本語Japanese language
topic marker
どうhow
ですis
question marker
Note: Evaluation
Example 4
どうやって来ましたか。
Dou yatte kimashita ka.
How did you come?
Breakdown
どうやってhow (method)
来ましたcame
question marker
Note: Method

Related Grammar