How to Say ‘What's the matter?’ in Japanese
どうしましたか。
dou shi mashi ta ka
[doh shee mah-shee tah ka]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a friendly, polite response when someone approaches you with a question. It sounds caring, not alarmed.
Phrase Breakdown
どう
dou
[doh]
how; what
Used to ask what should be done.
どうすればいいですか。
What should I do?
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past stem
Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.
昨日は多くのことを学びました。
I learned many things yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
か
ka
[ka]
question particle
A particle used at the end of a sentence to form a question.
それは大丈夫ですか？
Is that okay?
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