Doumo どうも


Informal word meaning: hello, good-bye, thank you, sorry, very (much), somehow, just

1. Used in greetings
「やあ。」「やあ、どうも。」
<<Yaa.>> <<Yaa, doumo.>>
<<Hi.>> <<Hi, how are you.>> (Glad to meet you.)
「これで失礼します。」「どうも。」
<<Kore de shitsurei shimasu.>> <<Doumo.>>
<<I’m leaving now.>> <<Good-bye.>>

2. Used to express thanks
「お先にどうぞ。」「これはどうも。」
<<Osaki ni douzo.>> <<Kore wa doumo.>>
<<Please go ahead.>> (After you.) <<Oh, thanks.>>

3. Used to express apology
「痛い。」「あ、どうも。大丈夫ですか。」
<<Itai.>> <<A, doumo. Daijoubu desuka.>>
<<Ouch.>> <<Oh, sorry. Are you all right?>>
(sumimasen <I’m sorry> is dropped after doumo)

4. Used as adverb
遅れてどうもすみません。
Okurete doumo sumimasen.
I’m very sorry to be late.
ご親切どうもありがとうございます。
Goshinsetsu doumo arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you very much for your kindness.

5. Used with negative
あなたの言うがどうも分かりません。
Anata no iu koto ga doumo wakarimasen.
I just can’t understand what you say.
どうもあの人は気に入らない。
Doumo ano hito wa ki ni iranai.
Somehow I don’t like that person.

-> See also: doushitemo