How to Say ‘What’s wrong?’ in Japanese
どうしました？
dou shi mashi ta
[doh shee]
🇯🇵 In Japan: If a neighbor answers the door with this, they're asking why you came by. It's neutral and common, not necessarily alarmed.
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.
こんばんは。どうしました？
Good evening. What's the matter?
しました
shi
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).
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？」.
どうしました？と聞かれました。
I was asked, 'What happened?'
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