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How to Say ‘Yes, what's the matter?’ in Japanese

はい、どうしましたか。

hai dou shi mashi ta ka

[hai dou shee mah-shee tah ka]

💬 Usage Tip: どうしましたか uses the past form, literally "What happened?", but it's the normal way to ask "What's up?" or "How can I help?"

Phrase Breakdown

はい、

hai

Yes,

A friendly reply when someone calls you. Say 'ha-i' clearly, then pause.

Example

はい、そうです。

Yes, that's right.

Words in this phrase

はい

hai

[hai]

yes

A basic affirmative response meaning yes.

Example

はい、来週の土曜日です。

Yes, it's next Saturday.

どうしましたか。

dou shi mashi ta ka

What's the matter? / How can I help?

A polite question asking what happened. The 'shi' in 'shimashita' is often whispered: 'dou shi-mash-ta ka'.

Example

顔色が悪いですね。どうしましたか。

You look pale. What's wrong?

Words in this phrase

どう

dou

[dou]

how

Interrogative pro-adverb used to ask about manner or state.

Example

どうしたらいいですか？

What should I do?

し

shi

[shee]

し is the stem of する, meaning to do.

Example

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.

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

Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.

Example

行くか？

Shall we go?

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