Tips for More Effective Studying
Nihongo Online School > Tips for More Effective Studying > How to use どうしたんですか。｜JLPT N4 Grammar｜Minna no Nihongo Lesson 26 (みんなの日本語26課)
How to use どうしたんですか。｜JLPT N4 Grammar｜Minna no Nihongo Lesson 26 (みんなの日本語26課)
2025/11/28
Director: Kotaro Muramoto
Principal of Nihongo Online School
In September 2019, he founded "Nihongo Online School". Since then, has been teaching Japanese online lessons, with a total of over 1,000 students.
He has designed an individualized curriculum based on student’s needs and study goal. And is conscious of making the classes speech-centered in order to improve students’ speaking skills.
The school asks students to submit homework assignments worth 2 hours per lesson to improve faster. By supporting students with these features, students are able to efficiently improve Japanese language skills.
“どうしたんですか” is a natural and very common expression used in everyday Japanese to ask about someone’s situation, problem, or the reason behind their behavior. It is polite, friendly, and shows that you care about the other person. This question appears frequently in workplaces, schools, and casual conversations.
Contents
When and How It’s Used
You use どうしたんですか when you notice something unexpected or unusual about someone. It expresses gentle curiosity and concern, similar to “What’s wrong?” or “What happened?” in English.
Typical situations include:
- Someone looks sick, tired, or sad
- Someone arrives late or behaves differently
- Someone appears troubled or surprised
- You want to know the reason behind an action or situation
Responding with 〜んです
When someone asks どうしたんですか, the natural way to answer is with 〜んです.
This pattern gives a soft, explanatory tone and helps you express your situation politely.
For example:
- 「頭が痛いんです。」 Atama ga itain desu. (I have a headache.)
- 「電車が遅れたんです。」 Densha ga okuretan desu. (The train was delayed.)
Using 〜んです sounds more natural than simply stating facts without it. It matches the tone of the question and signals that you are offering an explanation.
See How it’s used in conversation
This video will help you understand how is used どうしたんですか in everyday Japanese conversations. Watch and repeat to improve your listening and speaking skills!
Sentence Pattern
どうしたんですか。 Doushitandesuka
- Literal meaning: “What has happened?”
- Used to ask for the reason or explanation of a situation.
Related forms:
- どうしたの？ Doushitano (casual)
- どうされたんですか。 Dousaretandesuka (more polite/honorific)
Answer pattern:
[Reason / Situation] ＋ んです。
This explains the background or cause in a soft, polite way.
Examples
- Ａ：顔色が悪いですね。どうしたんですか。
Kaoiro ga warui desu ne. Dōshitan desu ka.
You look pale. What’s the matter?
Ｂ：ちょっと熱があるんです。
Chotto netsu ga arun desu.
I have a slight fever.
- Ａ：遅かったですね。どうしたんですか。
Osokattadesu ne. Dōshitan desu ka.
You’re late. What happened?
Ｂ：すみません。バスが来なかったんです。
Sumimasen. Basu ga konakattan desu.
Sorry, the bus didn’t come.
In Summary
どうしたんですか is a polite and essential expression for asking about someone’s situation or the reason for an unexpected action. It conveys concern and invites the speaker to explain gently.
When answering this question, using 〜んです helps you describe your condition or reason naturally and politely. Mastering both the question and the 〜んです response will make your Japanese sound much more authentic and caring in real conversations.
Enhance your JLPT N4 with Nihongo Online School
Mastering the core grammar of JLPT N4 is just one step toward passing the exam. To build a solid foundation, you’ll also need to learn JLPT N4 Grammar List , and also Play List on Youtube for JLPT N4 helps you understand important grammar easily.
At Nihongo Online School, our programs combine vocabulary, grammar, and practical usage in a clear, structured way, designed to help you succeed on the JLPT N4. With our learning system giving you the confidence and preparation you need for the exam.Discover your favorite courses at Nihongo Online School.