Japanese word

何事

Pronunciation

Romajinanigoto

Meaning

  • nounwhat happened

Example

いったい何事ですか？i tta i nani goto de su ka

What on earth happened?

Illustration for 何事 (what happened)

More examples

彼の顔が青いので、私は何事かと思いました。kare no kao ga ao i no de watashi wa nani goto ka to omo i ma shi ta

His face was pale, so I wondered what had happened.

Core concept

Points to an event or situation that has happened and invites an explanation, especially when the speaker is surprised.

Common phrases

  • いったい何事i tta i nani goto

    what on earth happened

  • 何事かと思うnani goto ka to omo u

    wonder what happened

Similar words

ことkoto: A matter or fact considered without specifying its details.
出来事dekigoto: Something that happens as an identifiable event.
事態jitai: A state of affairs that has come about.
事件jiken: An incident that is unusual or connected with a problem.

Definition in Japanese

起こった出来事や現在の事態がどのようなものかを問う語。驚きや不審の気持ちを伴うことがある。o ko tta de ki goto ya gen zai no ji tai ga do no yō na mo no ka o to u go odoro ki ya fu shin no ki mo chi o tomona u ko to ga a ru

Word origin

The compound 何事 (nanigoto, "what happened") joins 何 (nani, "what") with 事 (koto, "matter or event"); 事 is pronounced goto through rendaku.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 何事ですか (nanigoto desu ka) is useful for asking what happened, but its tone can suggest that something unusual has occurred.

Other meanings

  • what is going onnoun

Word lists with this word