どうしたんですかdou shita n desu ka
Dou shita n desu ka (どうしたんですか) means “asking what’s wrong”.
At the office
Use「どうしたんですか」to ask with concern what happened or what problem someone is facing.
In the course
How it works
When you see a coworker holding their stomach, notice how they look, then use this phrase to show concern.
「どうしたんですか」 means “What’s wrong?” It asks about the situation or problem the other person is facing.
The other person can explain with 「～んです」, as in the picture: “My stomach hurts.”
Here you are asking “What happened?”, rather than what action the other person is doing.
「どうしたんですか」 asks what is wrong; 「大丈夫ですか」 checks whether the person is okay.
Example sentences
- 会社kaishaでde
At the office
- 学校gakkouでde
At school
In a conversation
- A山田さん、どうしたんですか。
A: Yamada, what's wrong?
- B会社でお腹が痛くなったんです。
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I collapsed at the company.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
昨日、会社を （丁寧に）。
I was absent from work yesterday.
More grammar in this theme
- どうしたんですかasking what’s wrong