How do you say "What’s the matter?" in Japanese?

"What’s the matter?" in Japanese is "どうしましたか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🤔❓

How to Say ‘What’s the matter?’ in Japanese

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

"どうしましたか。" means "What’s the matter?" in English. Usage tip: Literally “What happened?” It’s a polite check-in. You’ll hear it from staff, neighbors, and friends.

どうしましたか。

dou shi mashi ta ka

[doh shee mah-shee tah kah]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally “What happened?” It’s a polite check-in. You’ll hear it from staff, neighbors, and friends.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Often said with concern when someone comes to the door—especially if it’s unexpected.

Phrase Breakdown

どう

dou

[doh]

how / what

In this full question, どう sets up “what happened / what’s the matter?”

Example

どうしましたか、音が気になりますか。

What’s wrong—does the sound bother you?

しました

shi mashi ta

did; has done (polite past)

Polite past form of する. In 「どうしましたか」 it’s a set phrase meaning “What happened?” / “What’s the matter?”

Example

何をしましたか。

What did you do?

Words in this phrase

し

shi

[shee]

did (polite past)

Verb component of しました (“did”). Together with どう it becomes the fixed phrase どうしましたか.

Example

どうしましたか、急に静かになりましたね。

What happened? It suddenly got quiet, didn’t it?

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite verb stem (part of ました)

まし is the polite base used to form ました (past polite).

Example

どうしましたか、今まで気づきませんでした。

What happened? I didn’t notice until now.

た

[tah]

past marker (part of ました)

た completes ました, making the verb past polite.

Example

どうしましたか、電話が鳴りましたか。

What’s wrong—did the phone ring?

か

[kah]

question particle

か turns a statement into a question in polite speech.

Example

どうしましたか。

What’s the matter? / What happened?

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