What's new with you
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 29 of 71Asking and following up
Catches up on what a friend has been up to.
- nani shiteta no?what were you up to?; what were you doing?
- are kara dou?how's it been since then?
- nanika atta?did something happen?; is something wrong?
- nanka ii koto atta?did something good happen?
Mix-ups nanika atta asks if something's wrong; nanka ii koto atta asks about something good.
nani shiteta no?
polite nani shite ita n desu ka?
what were you up to?; what were you doing?
Asking what someone was doing at a certain time, like when they didn't pick up or turned up late.
Said sharply, it can sound like an accusation: 'where were you?!'
denwa shita noni. nani shiteta no?
I called you. What were you up to?
電話したのに。何してたの？
denwa shita n desu kedo, nani shite ita n desu ka?
I called you. What were you doing?
電話したんですけど、何していたんですか？
Written 何してたの？ · なにしてたの？ · 何していたんですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 70× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
are kara dou?
polite are kara dou desu ka?
how's it been since then?
Following up on something you both know about, like an illness, a breakup or a new job.
Are kara points back to something you both know; sore kara just means 'and then'.
kaze, are kara dou? mou daijoubu?
How's your cold since then? All better?
風邪、あれからどう？もう大丈夫？
kaze wa are kara dou desu ka? mou daijoubu desu ka?
How has your cold been since then? Are you better?
風邪はあれからどうですか？もう大丈夫ですか？
Written あれからどう？ · あれからどうですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 3× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nanika atta?
polite nanika atta n desu ka
did something happen?; is something wrong?
Asked when someone looks upset or calls out of the blue.
Nanika atta no? is the softer, more caring version; dou shita no? (what's wrong?) is close.
genki nai ne. nanika atta?
You seem down. Did something happen?
元気ないね。何かあった？
kaoiro ga warui desu yo. nanika atta n desu ka?
You look pale. Did something happen?
顔色が悪いですよ。何かあったんですか？
Written 何かあった？ · なにかあった · 何かあったんですかWho you say itHeard 1070× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nanka ii koto atta?
polite nanika ii koto arimashita ka?
did something good happen?
Said when someone looks happier than usual, smiling or humming.
Nanka is the casual nanika ('something'); it's also the filler 'like'.
nikoniko shite, nanka ii koto atta?
You're all smiles. Did something good happen?
ニコニコして、なんかいいことあった？
ureshisou desu ne. nanika ii koto arimashita ka?
You look happy. Did something good happen?
嬉しそうですね。何かいいことありましたか？
Written なんかいいことあった？ · 何かいいことありましたか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 3× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles