ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు?
ēmi cēstunnāvu?
The English phrase "what are you doing?" is translated into Telugu as ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? (ēmi cēstunnāvu?)
This phrase is used to inquire about the activity a person is currently performing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? is composed of ēmi meaning "what", and cēstunnāvu meaning "are doing" or "doing you".
Which one should you use?
The form ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? is used for people of equal or lower status, whereas ఏమి చేస్తున్నారు? is the version used to ask the same question politely or when addressing an elder.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? is used when addressing someone of equal or lower status, such as a friend or a younger person.
How do you pronounce it?
ēmi cēstunnāvu?
Did you know?
- In Telugu, if you use the informal ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? with an elder or a stranger, it can be perceived as an intentional insult rather than a simple mistake. The grammatical difference between the forms is deeply tied to social hierarchy and respect.
- While the phrase asks 'what are you doing?', it is often used as a general greeting similar to 'how are you?' or 'what is up?' rather than a literal inquiry into a person's current task.
- Depending on the region, speakers may add the particle రా ('rā') to the end of ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు? when speaking to a very close male friend, though using it with a stranger can be seen as offensive.
Examples in context
- మీరు ఏమి చేస్తున్నారు?What are you doing?
- నీవు ఇప్పుడు ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు?What are you doing now?
- అక్కడ ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు?akkada emi chestunnavu?What are you doing there?
Example conversation
Ravi is sitting on the sofa and Pallavi calls him.
- పల్లవి Pallaviరవి, ఏమి చేస్తున్నావు?ravi, emi chestunnavu?Ravi, what are you doing?
- రవి Raviనేను సినిమా చూస్తున్నాను.nenu cinema chustunnanu.I am watching a movie.
- పల్లవి Pallaviసరే, నాతో పదా.sare, naatho pada.Okay, come with me.
- రవి Raviసరే, వస్తున్నాను.sare, vastunnanu.Okay, I am coming.
