How do you say "How was it? / How did it go?" in Japanese?

"How was it? / How did it go?" in Japanese is "どうでしたか". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🤔❓

How to Say ‘How was it? / How did it go?’ in Japanese

Q: What does "どうでしたか" mean in English?

"どうでしたか" means "How was it? / How did it go?" in English. Usage tip: [どうでしたか] is polite past tense, used for “How was…?” It’s a soft, friendly way to ask without sounding demanding.

どうでしたか

dou deshi ta ka

[DOH desh tah kah]

💬 Usage Tip: [どうでしたか] is polite past tense, used for “How was…?” It’s a soft, friendly way to ask without sounding demanding.

🇯🇵 In Japan: In medical settings, patients often speak politely even to younger staff. Adding [先生] (doctor) makes it extra natural: [先生、どうでしたか]?

Phrase Breakdown

どう

dou

[DOH]

how; in what way

Used to ask “How was it?” about a situation or result. In a medical context, it can ask about results or condition.

Example

検査の結果はどうでしたか。

How were the test results?

でした

deshi ta

was (polite past)

Polite past form of です. Makes the sentence polite and past-tense.

Example

昨日は忙しかったでした。

Yesterday was busy. (polite past tone)

Words in this phrase

でし

deshi

[desh]

(part of) deshita (polite past of です)

A polite past-form element used in どうでしたか (“How was it?”). It helps make the question polite.

Example

昨日の診察はどうでしたか。

How was yesterday’s medical examination?

た

[tah]

(part of) deshita (past marker)

The た completes でした (past polite). Not used alone here; it marks past tense in the polite form.

Example

結果はどうでしたか。

How were the results?

か

[kah]

question particle (polite)

Adds a question tone, like a question mark. Common in polite questions at clinics.

Example

痛みはありますか。

Do you have any pain?

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager