How was it
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 41 of 68Asking and following up
Gets someone talking about an event, trip or weekend.
- dou datta?how was it?
- nani ga ichiban yokatta?what was the best part?
- dare to itta no?who'd you go with?
- daijoubu datta?were you okay?; did it go all right?
Mix-ups dou datta asks about the past; dou is about now.
dou datta?
polite dou deshita ka
how was it?
Ask about a trip, test, date or meal that's over; answer tanoshikatta, yokatta, or maa maa (so-so).
dou desu ka asks about now; dou datta asks about something finished.
ryokou dou datta? tanoshikatta?
How was the trip? Was it fun?
旅行どうだった？楽しかった？
ryokou wa dou deshita ka? tanoshikatta desu ka?
How was your trip? Did you enjoy it?
旅行はどうでしたか？楽しかったですか？
Written どうだった？ · どうだった · どうでしたかWho you say it and hear itHeard 1113× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nani ga ichiban yokatta?
polite nani ga ichiban yokatta desu ka?
what was the best part?
A follow-up after someone tells you about a trip, a concert or a meal.
Doko ga ichiban yokatta? asks for the best place rather than the best thing.
kyouto dou datta? nani ga ichiban yokatta?
How was Kyoto? What was the best part?
京都どうだった？何が一番よかった？
kyouto wa dou deshita ka? nani ga ichiban yokatta desu ka?
How was Kyoto? What did you like best?
京都はどうでしたか？何が一番よかったですか？
Written 何が一番よかった？ · なにがいちばんよかった？ · 何が一番よかったですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard too rare in film subtitles to count
dare to itta no?
polite dare to itta n desu ka?
who'd you go with?
Following up when someone says they went somewhere, often from curiosity about who they're seeing.
Hitori de ('on my own') is a common, unremarkable answer.
umi itta no? dare to itta no?
You went to the beach? Who'd you go with?
海行ったの？誰と行ったの？
umi ni itta n desu ka? dare to itta n desu ka?
You went to the beach? Who did you go with?
海に行ったんですか？誰と行ったんですか？
Written 誰と行ったの？ · だれといったの？ · 誰と行ったんですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard too rare in film subtitles to count
daijoubu datta?
polite daijoubu deshita ka?
were you okay?; did it go all right?
Checking on someone after an event: a storm, an exam, a late train, a talk with the boss.
Daijoubu? asks about now; daijoubu datta? asks about something that's over.
kinou no jishin, daijoubu datta?
Were you okay in yesterday's earthquake?
昨日の地震、大丈夫だった？
kinou no jishin, daijoubu deshita ka?
Were you all right in yesterday's earthquake?
昨日の地震、大丈夫でしたか？
Written 大丈夫だった？ · だいじょうぶだった？ · 大丈夫でしたか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 120× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles