How do you say "What’s wrong?" in Japanese?

"What’s wrong?" in Japanese is "どうしました？". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

❓😟

How to Say ‘What’s wrong?’ in Japanese

Q: What does "どうしました？" mean in English?

"どうしました？" means "What’s wrong?" in English. Usage tip: [どうしました？] is a standard “Is something the matter?” You can reply with [実は…] to soften your complaint.

どうしました？

dou shi mashi ta

[doh shee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: [どうしました？] is a standard “Is something the matter?” You can reply with [実は…] to soften your complaint.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Even if you’re annoyed, mirroring calm politeness helps avoid escalating a neighbor situation.

Phrase Breakdown

どう

dou

[doh]

how; what (as in “what’s wrong?”)

Introduces the question. In a neighbor conversation, they may ask this when you visit unexpectedly.

Example

こんばんは。どうしました？

Good evening. What's the matter?

しました

shi mashi ta

did; have done (polite past)

Past polite form of する. In どうしました？ it politely asks what happened (to you).

Example

けがをしました。

I got injured.

Words in this phrase

し

shi

[shee]

did (polite) (part)

The verb stem part in 「しました」 within 「どうしました？」.

Example

どうしました？と聞かれました。

I was asked, 'What happened?'

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

(polite verb ending part)

Polite past ending part of 「しました」.

Example

どうしました？と聞いてください。

Please ask, 'What's wrong?'

た

[tah]

past tense marker

Completes the past polite form in 「どうしました？」.

Example

どうしました？と声をかけました。

I called out, 'What's wrong?'

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager