How do you say "Was doing (polite past) / I was (doing)" in Japanese?

"Was doing (polite past) / I was (doing)" in Japanese is "してました". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "してました" mean in English?

"してました" means "Was doing (polite past) / I was (doing)" in English. Usage tip: [してました] is the polite past progressive of [する]. Often used with feelings: [緊張してました] = “I was nervous.”

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How to Say ‘Was doing (polite past) / I was (doing)’ in Japanese

してました

shi te mashi ta

[shee teh mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: [してました] is the polite past progressive of [する]. Often used with feelings: [緊張してました] = “I was nervous.”

🇯🇵 In Japan: Admitting a little nervousness is seen as honest and cute rather than “weak,” especially early on.

Phrase Breakdown

し

shi

[shee]

do (stem)

Verb stem of する (“to do”). It combines with ていました to mean “was doing.”

Example

緊張してました。

I was nervous.

て

[teh]

-te (linking form)

Connects to いました/ました. In してました, it’s part of the past progressive/past state expression.

Example

ずっと待ってました。

I was waiting the whole time.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past “was…” (shortened)

From いました → often shortened to ました/…ました in casual-polite speech. してました is a common spoken contraction of していました.

Example

さっきまで練習してました。

I was practicing until a moment ago.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

た completes the polite past: ました. In speech, していました → してました (still polite but casual).

Example

緊張してました。

I was nervous.

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