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    どうも理解できない (dōmo rikai dekinai - I just can't understand it)

    Grammar & Usage

    fixed expression
    neutral to slightly emphatic

    How it works

    This phrase combines 'dōmo' (an adverb expressing uncertainty, difficulty, or strong negation) with 'rikai dekinai' (the negative potential form of the verb 'rikai suru' - to understand). 'Dekinai' is the negative potential form of 'suru' (to do), meaning 'cannot do'. The 'dōmo' intensifies the inability or difficulty of understanding, suggesting a complete lack of comprehension or an insurmountable mental block.

    Sample sentences

    彼の説明が複雑すぎて、どうも理解できない。

    His explanation is too complicated; I just can't understand it.

    この数学の問題、何度考えてもどうも理解できない。

    No matter how many times I think about this math problem, I just can't understand it.

    なぜ彼女がそんな行動をしたのか、どうも理解できない。

    I just can't understand why she acted that way.

    Quick facts

    nuance:'Dōmo' adds a nuance of 'somehow,' 'no matter how hard I try,' or 'for some reason,' emphasizing the speaker's internal struggle with comprehension. It can also imply a slight sense of frustration or resignation. While 'wakaranai' (I don't know/understand) is a simple statement, 'rikai dekinai' implies an inability to grasp or logically process information, and 'dōmo rikai dekinai' deepens this sense of inability.

    Mnemonic

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    Example

    彼の説明が複雑すぎて、どうも理解できない。

    His explanation is too complicated; I just can't understand it.

    この数学の問題、何度考えてもどうも理解できない。

    No matter how many times I think about this math problem, I just can't understand it.

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