Chinese word

干什么

Pronunciation

Pinyingàn shén me

Meaning

  • verbwhat are you doing

Example

你在干什么？nǐ zài gàn shén me

What are you doing?

Illustration for 干什么 (what are you doing)

More examples

他在偷偷干什么？tā zài tōu tōu gàn shén me

What is he secretly doing?

Core concept

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

Common phrases

  • 在干什么zài gàn shén me

    what are you doing

Similar words

做什么zuò shén me: Casually asks what activity or task someone is doing at the moment.
在做什么zài zuò shén me: Asks what activity someone is currently carrying out, stressing that it is ongoing.

Definition in Chinese

用于口语中询问对方现在在做什么或有什么事，常用来问动作或来意。yòng yú kóu yǔ zhōng xún wèn duì fāng xiàn zài zài zuò shén me huò yǒu shén me shì cháng yòng lái wèn dòng zuò huò lái yì

Word origin

干 (gàn, "do") + 什么 (shénme, "what") combines to ask about the action or matter a person has in mind.

Usage tips

  • 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.

Other meanings

  • what do you wantinterjection

Word lists with this word