How to Say ‘What happened?’ in Japanese
したの？
shi ta n
[shee tah noh]
💬 Usage Tip: In [どうしたの？], [した] comes from “did,” so the full phrase is like “What happened?” Very common when someone looks upset.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This phrase is casual and caring with friends or family. For more polite situations, people often soften their wording.
Phrase Breakdown
し
shi
[shee]
did
From する, meaning 'to do'; here part of asking what happened.
何をしたの？と聞きました。
I asked, 'What did you do?'
た
ta
[tah]
did; past marker
The past form part of した, showing something happened.
昨日どうしたの？
What happened yesterday?
の
n
[noh]
explanatory particle
Used in casual questions to ask for explanation.
どうしたの？と友だちに聞きました。
I asked my friend, 'What happened?'
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