English–Chinese

“what are you doing” in Chinese

Chinese

Pronunciation

Pinyingàn shén me

Example

你在干什么？nǐ zài gàn shén me

What are you doing?

Illustration for 干什么 (what are you doing)

How to say “what are you doing” in Chinese

“What are you doing” in Chinese is 干什么 (gàn shén me).

A short conversational check on what is happening or what someone wants.

Full entry for 干什么: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 干什么

他在偷偷干什么？tā zài tōu tōu gàn shén me

What is he secretly doing?

Tips for using 干什么

  • Tone changes the feeling: a warm voice makes the question casual among familiar people, while a sharp voice can make it sound challenging in a formal or unfamiliar situation.

“what are you doing” in other languages