How to Say ‘Did (polite past form of する)’ in Japanese
しました
shi mashi ta
[shee mah-shee tah]
💬 Usage Tip: [しました] is [する] in polite past: “did.” In [どうしましたか] it’s like “what happened?” not “what did you do?”
🇯🇵 In Japan: Polite past forms are common in set phrases; they can sound softer than direct present-tense questions.
Phrase Breakdown
し
shi
[shee]
did (polite past)
Part of the past polite form しました (“did”). Used in set phrases like どうしましたか (“What’s wrong?”).
何をしましたか。
What did you do?
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
(part of) polite past form
This まし is the stem of ます (polite). In しました, it makes the verb polite.
少し待ちました。
I waited a little.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense marker
In verbs, た marks past tense (did). In しました, it completes the polite past form.
昨日、音楽を聞きました。
Yesterday, I listened to music.
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