How to Say ‘Is something wrong?’ in Japanese
悪いんですか。
warui n desu ka
[warui n dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: The んです adds a sense of "is it that...?", showing you've noticed something and want an explanation. It sounds more caring than a bare 悪いですか.
Phrase Breakdown
悪い
warui
[warui]
bad
Something that is undesirable or unpleasant.
彼は悪いことをした。
He did something bad.
ん
n
[n]
explanatory tone
Adds explanation or background to what the speaker is saying.
写真のプロジェクトをしているんだ。
I'm doing a photography project, you know.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
か turns the sentence into a polite question.
行きますかと聞きました。
I asked, 'Will you go?'
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