How to Say ‘What seems to be the problem?’ in Japanese
どうなさいましたか。
dou nasai mashi ta ka
[dou nah-SAH-ee mah-shee tah kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: なさいます is a respectful word for "do", used by staff speaking to customers. You'll hear this question, but don't use it about yourself.
Phrase Breakdown
どう
dou
[dou]
how
Interrogative pro-adverb used to ask about manner or state.
どうしたらいいですか？
What should I do?
なさい
nasai
[nah-SAH-ee]
do (honorific stem)
Stem of なさる, respectful form of する; に + なさる means to choose.
何になさいますか？
What would you like?
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past stem
Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.
昨日は多くのことを学びました。
I learned many things yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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