what's wrong vs. what's the matter v.s what's the problem

[Sun14]

Hello, my friends,

I was wondering whether we could say all of them to someone when there are something wrong with them:

A: You look pale, what's wrong/what's the matter/what's the problem with you?

B: I have a stomachache.

Thoughts and context: A and B are friends when A found B looked pale he wanted to know what the matter was.

 

[Thomas Tompion]

A lot depends on the context, social and emotional.

What's the problem? can seem particularly prying.

 

[Sun14]

A lot depends on the context, social and emotional.

What's the problem? can seem particularly prying.

Do you mean they are generally the same?

 

[Franco-filly]

If they simple look pale or unwell I think I'd be more likely to ask "[You look pale/ill] Are you OK?" "Do you feel OK?" - leaving them to give more details if they feel so inclined.
If they had said something like "I feel ill today?" then I might ask "Why, what's the matter with you?"

 

[You little ripper!]

I'd only use the first two or Ff's suggestions. "What's the problem with you?" sounds like you have an issue with this person and are trying to sort it out.

 

[Sun14]

If I don't use with you, do you have different idea?

A: You look pale, what's wrong/what's the matter/what's the problem?

B: I have a stomachache.

Thoughts and context: A and B are friends when A found B looked pale he wanted to know what the matter was.

 

[panjandrum]

I would not advise asking "What's the problem?" either.
See #5.

 

[Sun14]

I would not advise asking "What's the problem?" either.
See #5.

How about:

What‘s the trouble in the same context and situation?

 

[sound shift]

"What's the trouble?" would not be idiomatic after "You look pale."

 

[Sun14]

"What's the trouble?" would not be idiomatic after "You look pale."

How about someone looked unwell and sad then I asked him what's the trouble to mean what't the matter?

 

[sound shift]

How about someone looked unwell and sad then I asked him what's the trouble to mean what't the matter?

That doesn't work. It's not idiomatic in that context and it sounds flippant.

 

[Sun14]

That doesn't work. It's not idiomatic in that context and it sounds flippant.

Got it. Thank you very much. So generally, what's the matter and what's wrong is almost the same but what's the problem always refers to some severe thing and what's the trouble are a quite different idea?