Chinese word

干嘛

Pronunciation

Pinyingàn má

Meaning

  • adverbwhy

Example

你干嘛这样？nǐ gàn má zhè yàng

Why are you doing that?

Illustration for 干嘛 (why)

More examples

你干嘛这么急？nǐ gàn má zhè me jí

Why are you in such a hurry?

Core concept

An informal verbal check on another person's action, with attention on either the act itself or the reason behind it.

Common phrases

  • 干嘛这么急gàn má zhè me jí

    why be in such a hurry

  • 干嘛吃醋gàn má chī cù

    why be jealous

Similar words

干什么gàn shén me: A short conversational question asking what someone is doing or what an action is for.
为什么wèi shén me: A question asking for the cause or reason behind an event or action.
怎么zěn me: A short question about how something is done or what state it is in.

Definition in Chinese

用于口语中表示对某人行为的不理解或质疑，既可询问动作本身，也可反问其原因，常见于简短句子中。yòng yú kóu yǔ zhōng biǎo shì duì mǒu rén xíng wéi de bù lí jiě huò zhì yí jì kě xún wèn dòng zuò běn shēn yě kě fǎn wèn qí yuán yīn cháng jiàn yú jián duǎn jù zi zhōng

Word origin

干嘛 (gànmá, "why/what are you doing") is a colloquial shortening of 干什么 (gàn shénme, "do what"), preserving a quick question about an action or its purpose.

Usage tips

  • A sharp tone can make it sound like a challenge, while a light tone can make it curious, so the same short form ranges from friendly questioning to mild reproach.

Other meanings

  • what are you doingverb
  • what foradverb

Word lists with this word