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How to Say ‘Is there some kind of problem?’ in Japanese

何か問題がありますか。

nani ka mondai ga ari masu ka

[NAH-nee kah MOHN-dye ga ah-ree mahs ka]

🇯🇵 In Japan: A manager asking this is usually inviting you to explain the cause openly; it's a cue to name the blocker, not an accusation.

Phrase Breakdown

何か問題が

nani ka mondai ga

some problem

Nanika mondai ga. 何か means 'some / any'. Say it as one smooth unit.

Example

何か問題が起きました。

Some problem occurred.

Words in this phrase

何

nani

[NAH-nee]

some (thing)

With か it forms 何か, 'something'.

Example

何か飲みますか。

Will you drink something?

か

[kah]

some- (indefinite)

After a question word, makes it indefinite: 何か = something.

Example

何か食べたいです。

I want to eat something.

問題

mondai

[MOHN-dye]

problem; issue

A problem, issue, or question to deal with.

Example

問題はありません。

There is no problem.

が

[ga]

subject marker

A particle marking the subject of the sentence.

Example

興味がある分野を教えてください。

Please tell me the field you are interested in.

ありますか。

ari masu ka

is there?

Arimasu ka. This is the polite question form of ある (to exist, for things).

Example

時間はありますか。

Do you have time?

Words in this phrase

あり

ari

[ah-ree]

exist / have

あり is the stem of ある, used for existence of things.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite present/future ending

ます makes a verb polite in present or future statements.

Example

予約します。

I will make a reservation.

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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