Dō shita-no?
どうしたの？
You know what’s going on, but you missed a bit of it.
Nani-ka atta-no?
何なにかあったの？
For when you don’t know what’s going on.
What have you been talking about?
Nani hanashiteta-no?
何なに話はなしてたの？
Nothing much.
Betsu-ni nani-mo.
別べつに何なにも。
Betsu-ni.
別べつに。
Nani-mo.
何なにも。
Toku-ni (nai)
特とくに（ない）。
Nothing special.
Betsu-ni kawan’nai.
別べつに変かわんない。
Aikawarazu.
相あい変かわらず。
Okay, I guess.
Anmari.
あんまり。
I’m fine.
Genki.
元げん気き。
Genki-yo. ♀
元げん気きよ。
Genki-dayo. ♂
元げん気きだよ。
Māne.
まあね。
So-so/Not good, not bad.
Mā-mā.
まあまあ。
What’s wrong?
Dōka shita-no?
どうかしたの？
Nan-ka atta-no?
何なにかあったの？
These are general enquiries about whether something is wrong, in a situation where you haven’t noticed any particular problem.
Dō shita-no?
どうしたの？
Asking this shows that you are much more sure (than with the above two phrases) that something is wrong, and so it should be voiced with more concern.
Dō shitan-dayo? ♂
どうしたんだよ？
You ask this when there is clearly a problem, e.g. if the other person suddenly stops talking in the middle of a conversation.
I’m really busy (with work/university).
(Shigoto/Daigaku-de) tottemo isogashii.
(仕事し ごと・大学だい がくで) とっても忙いそがしい。
I’m (a bit) sick.
(Chotto) byōki-da.
(ちょっと)病気びょう きだ。
I’ve got a cold.
Chotto kaze(-o) hi’iteru.
ちょっと風邪か ぜ(を)ひいてる。
I’m (a bit) depressed.
(Chotto) ochikonderu.
(ちょっと) 落おち込こんでる。
I’m tired.
Tsukareteru/Tsukareta.
疲つかれてる/疲つかれた。
Tsukareteru is used in the general sense, whereas Tsukareta is more commonly used after an event or a hard day’s work.
I’m sleepy.
Nemui.
眠ねむい。
I’m not sleepy.
Nemuku-nai.
眠ねむくない。
That’s a bummer/tough!
Taihen-dane!
大たい変へんだね!
Taihen-dana! ♂
大たい変へんだな!
This is a classic Japanese expression of sympathy, disappointment, frustration. It’s very flexible, and how you voice it adapts it to the situation. An understanding tone conveys sympathy with the other person’s problems, or by adding force you show frustration with your own problems, which you can emphasize by making it Taihendayo! 大変たい へんだよ!
That can’t be helped/There’s nothing you can do about it.
Shikata (-ga) nai-ne.
仕し方かた (が) ないね。
That’s unfortunate/That's a shame.
Zan’nen-dane.
残念ざん ねんだね。
Along with Taihen, these are more overworked phrases. Shikata nai-ne especially expresses a sense of helplessness—“A decision has been made higher up, and it’s final.” A sympathetic tone shows that you share the other person’s feelings.
It’ll be okay/It’ll work out.
Nantoka
