どうか

Alternative writings: 如何か
JLPT:N3
Frequency:
1

A polite request marker used to plead or ask someone to do something (as in 'please do〜').

AdverbPolite (Teineigo) LanguageUsually Kana

Examples

どうかこの仕事を手伝ってくださいませんか。

Please, could you help me with this work?

どうか安全に帰ってきてください。

Please come back safely.

どうかご理解いただけますようお願い申し上げます。

We humbly ask for your understanding.

2

Somehow or other; in one way or another (used when the method or reason is unclear).

AdverbUsually Kana

Examples

彼はどうかして重要な会議に遅れてしまった。

He somehow ended up late for the important meeting.

どうかして彼女の連絡先を聞き出したい。

I want to find a way to get her contact information somehow.

3

Used like '〜かどうか' to mean 'whether or not' (indicating if something is the case).

AdverbUsually Kana

Examples

行くかどうか、まだどうか決めていない。

I haven't decided yet whether I'll go or not.

彼が来るかどうか、はっきり伝えてほしい。

I want to know clearly whether he will come or not.

4

Used to indicate that something is strange or off (e.g., someone's behavior or a situation).

AdverbIrregular VerbUsually Kana

Examples

彼の様子がどうか変だ。ちゃんと休んだほうがいい。

Something about his condition seems off. He should get some rest.

最近、コンピュータの動作がどうかおかしい。

Lately the computer has been acting strangely.