どうにも～ない | Grammar

Structure

どうにも + [verb ない-form] どうにも + [i-adj 〜い → 〜く] + ない

Description

どうにも～ない means "can't, however hard you try". どうにも goes in front of a verb in the ない-form, usually a potential, and says every way has been tried and none worked.

。

I just can't solve this problem, whatever I try.

。

I simply can't forget her.

、。

I'm so hungry I can't stand it any longer.

The negative is what carries the meaning, so the verb has to be in the ない-form.

× どうにもできる → どうにもできない

どうにもならない

With なる, the pattern is the fixed phrase "nothing can be done about it". Its partner with する is どうにもできない, "I can't do anything about it". Both are everyday speech.

。

Nothing can be done about the past.

。

This much work is impossible for one person.

。

Trust, once lost, can't be won back.

どうにも or どうしても

with a negative means the same: "can't, no matter what". It is the more common of the two in conversation. どうしても also goes with a wish or a "must", and どうにも does not.

。

I just can't remember.

。

I really want to go.

× どうにも行きたい → どうしても行きたい

Examples

。

Nothing can be done about this situation.

。

I simply cannot forget about her, no matter what.

。

I'm so sleepy that I can't concentrate at all.

、。

The relationship between those two probably can't be repaired no matter what.

、。

The traffic jam was so bad that I couldn't move at all.

、。

I'm so hungry that I can't stand it no matter how hard I try.

。

Trust once lost simply cannot be regained.

。

This amount of work is impossible to handle alone.

、。

I couldn't hold back my feelings at all and ended up crying.

。

Even after hearing the explanation, I simply couldn't understand.

、。

The deadline is tomorrow, but it doesn't look like I can finish no matter what.

、。

It's an old machine, and apparently it can't be repaired by any means.

References

The Intensifier ～ないimabi.org