How to Say ‘What happened?’ in Japanese
どうしましたか。
dou shi mashi ta ka
[dou shi mah-shee tah ka]
🇯🇵 In Japan: A boss says this to invite you to explain why you came over. It means "what's up?" more than asking whether something went wrong.
Phrase Breakdown
どう
dou
[dou]
how
Interrogative pro-adverb used to ask about manner or state.
どうしたらいいですか？
What should I do?
し
shi
[shi]
to do
The verb for carrying out or performing an action.
そのことをしました。
I did that thing.
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
Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.
行くか？
Shall we go?
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