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How to Say ‘What can I do for you today?’ in Japanese

今日はどうされましたか。

kyou wa dou sa re mashi ta ka

[kyoh wah doh sah reh mah-shee tah ka]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Said by the person receiving a call or visitor, often in reception, clinics, or offices. It politely invites you to state your purpose, so have a one-line reason ready.

Phrase Breakdown

今日は

kyou wa

today (topic)

今日 is read 'kyou', with a long 'o'. は is read 'wa'.

Example

今日は暑いです。

It's hot today.

Words in this phrase

今日

kyou

[kyoh]

today

The current day.

Example

今日のコンサートは満席です。

Today's concert is full.

は

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

どうされましたか。

dou sa re mashi ta ka

what brings you here? / what's the matter?

This is a polite question about someone's situation. It is common at clinics and offices.

Example

どうされましたか。大丈夫ですか。

What's the matter? Are you okay?

Words in this phrase

どう

dou

[doh]

how

Question word used to ask how or in what way.

Example

どうしますか。

What will you do?

さ

[sah]

do (stem of suru)

Stem form of the verb suru 'to do', used before the honorific/passive ending reru.

Example

先生はもう帰宅されました。

The teacher has already gone home.

れ

[reh]

honorific verb marker

Here used as a respectful form showing honor to the person doing the action, not passive.

Example

社長が話されました。

The president spoke.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past stem

Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.

Example

昨日は多くのことを学びました。

I learned many things yesterday.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

か

[ka]

question particle

Indicates a question with previous verb.

Example

飲みませんか？

Won't you drink?

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