DO you sometimes see friends who aren't getting on well? Want to show your concern for them by asking about the problem? The following expressions can help you out if there's an uneasy silence.

1. What's the matter? / What's the problem? 你怎么了?

Note: Commonly used to ask about any problems, physical, marital or financial. Do not confuse it with another expression "What's your problem?" (你什么毛病啊？)which is an aggressive way of saying "What IS wrong with you?" or "Why are you such a mess?"

What's the matter? You look tired/sad/uneasy/a bit sick/troubled. (你怎么了?看起来有点累/伤心/不安/生病了/有烦心事。)

2. What's wrong? / Is anything wrong? 出什么事了？

I kept calling you last night, but you didn't answer the phone. What's wrong/Is anything wrong? (我昨晚一直给你打电话但你都没接，出什么事了？)

3. Is something bothering / troubling you? 你有什么烦心事吗？/你没事吧？

Is something bothering you? You don't seem to be able to concentrate. (你没事吧？你好像没法集中注意力。)

4. Are you OK / all right? 你还好吧？

Is everything OK / all right? 你没什么事吧？

Note: Often used when people sense that something is wrong.

5. What's going on? 出什么事了？

What happened? / What's happening? 你有什么心事吗?

Note: Because the first one has the broader use meaning "What are you doing/What have you been doing lately" (你最近怎么样？), it's not quite so serious. The second and the third are often used when there has been some physical problem ? something broken or destroyed, some marital dispute, some accident.

(To be continued)

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