どうにも
Cannot, There is no way one can, Nothing one can do, Cannot possibly not by any means, Cannot do no matter how hard one tries, Nothing will come out, It is meaningless to
Structure
どうにも（こうにも） + Verb［stem］+ ようがない
どうにもできない
どうにも（こうにも）ならない
Explanation
The phrase どうにも is typically used in conjunction with negative forms such as できない ('can't'), ならない ('won't become'), or ようがない ('no way to'). It is constructed from the adverb どう ('how'), the case marking particle に, and the adverbial particle も. It suggests that 'no matter how (A) is attempted, (B) is not possible'. The expression as a whole is often understood to mean 'it's no use doing (A)', 'there's simply no way to handle (A)', or 'it's impossible to (A)'.
You will most often see どうにも placed at the beginning or near the end of a clause, before or after an explanation of why a certain situation feels hopeless or unmanageable.
- この宿題は難しすぎて、どうにも終わりません。This homework is too difficult; there's just no way I can finish it.
- 壊れたパソコンを見せられても、どうにも直しようがない。Even if you show me the broken computer, there's no way for me to fix it.
- 彼の気持ちがどうにも分からないから、もう諦めた。I simply couldn't understand his feelings, so I've given up.
This grammar structure highlights the speaker's sense of helplessness, exasperation, or disappointment regarding something beyond their influence. For this reason, it frequently points to the circumstances or actions of someone other than the person speaking.
For extra emphasis, こうにも can be added directly after どうにも.
- もう時間が遅すぎるから、どうにもこうにも行けません。It's already too late, so there's absolutely no way I can go.
- 助けてあげたいのはやまやまだけど、どうにもこうにも手の出しようがない。I'd really love to help, but there's absolutely nothing I can do.
Examples
このパソコン、どうにも起動しないんだ。
No matter what I do, this computer won't turn on.
彼が不機嫌な理由：「あいつがなぜ怒っているのか、どうにもわからない。」
On the reason for his bad mood: 'I have absolutely no idea why he's angry.'
狭い穴にハマってしまって、どうにも体を動かせない。
I've gotten stuck in a narrow hole and can't move my body at all.
この数学の問題は難しすぎて、どうにも解けそうにない。
This math problem is so difficult, it seems there's just no way I can solve it.
彼の頑固な性格は、もうどうにもならないね。
His stubborn personality is something that just can't be helped at this point.
感動しすぎて：「この気持ちは、言葉ではどうにも言い表しようがない。」
Being too moved for words: 'This feeling is simply impossible to express in words.'
この古いラジオは部品がないから、もうどうにも修理できない。
There are no parts for this old radio, so it's impossible to fix it anymore.
昨日あまり寝ていないせいで、どうにも眠気がとれない。
I didn't get much sleep yesterday, so I just can't seem to shake this sleepiness at all.
赤ちゃんが泣き止まなくて、どうにもできないと感じてしまう。
The baby won't stop crying, and I feel like there's absolutely nothing I can do.
二人の意見が対立しすぎていて、どうにもならない状況だ。
Their opinions are in such opposition that we're in a situation where nothing can be done.
会社の経営問題は、一社員の私にはどうにもできない。
As a single employee, there's nothing I can do about the company's management problems.