Chinese Conversation · Level 16
90 words
Chinese word
干
Pronunciation
Pinyingàn
Meaning
- verbdo
Example
你今天要干什么？nǐ jīn tiān yào gàn shén me
What are you going to do today?
More examples
现在你在干什么？xiàn zài nǐ zài gàn shén me
What are you doing now?
Core concept
It centers on hands-on action: making something happen, while a separate pronunciation of the same written form describes something dry.
Common phrases
干什么gàn shén me
what do
干活gàn huó
work
Similar words
做zuò: Carrying out an action, task, or activity in a general, neutral way.
Definition in Chinese
在口语中常用作动词，表示做某事、从事某项活动或去做一件事，也可用来询问对方打算做什么，语气可以随意甚至粗俗。zài kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng zuò dòng cí biǎo shì zuò mǒu shì cóng shì mǒu xiàng huó dòng huò qù zuò yí jiàn shì yě kě yòng lái xún wèn duì fāng dǎ suàn zuò shén me yǔ qì ké yǐ suí yì shèn zhì cū sú
Word origin
干 (gàn, "do") has a simplified form shared with a separate word for dry, reflecting the joining of older written forms rather than one meaning developing directly from the other.
Usage tips
- Among friends, this verb sounds casual and direct, but 做什么 (zuò shénme, "do what") is a safer choice in formal settings or when speaking to elders.