你在做什么？
The English phrase "what are you doing?" is translated into Chinese as 你在做什么？
Depending on the context, you might use different variations: 你在干嘛呢？ is an informal way to ask, while 你在忙什么？ is an informal way to ask what someone is busy with. For a very colloquial and casual approach among friends, you can use 干嘛呢？ to mean "what are you doing?" or "what's up?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 你在做什么？ is composed of 你 (you), the continuous aspect marker 在 (in the process of), the verb 做 (to do) and 什么 (what).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a respectful and polite way to ask someone what they are doing, such as when addressing elders or superiors, replace 你 with 您 to say 您在做什么？ A formal way to ask is 请问您在做什么？, which translates to "May I ask what you are doing?" On the other hand, 你在干嘛呢？ is an informal way to ask and 干嘛呢？ is a much more colloquial and casual version used among friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
To emphasize that an action is currently in progress, you can add the particle 呢 to the end of the sentence to form 你在做什么呢？
Did you know?
- If you use the formal 您 in 您在做什么？ to a close friend, it may come across as sarcastic or mockingly polite because the degree of respect is too high for the intimacy.
- While 干嘛 usually asks 'what are you doing', using it with a specific tone can actually mean 'why' or 'what for'. In this context, it functions as a challenge to the other person's motives rather than a question about their activity.
- If someone answers 没干嘛 (not doing anything) to the question 你在干嘛？, it often implies they are available to talk or help, rather than just stating a fact about their idleness.
Examples in context
- 你在做什么？Nǐ zài zuò shénme?What are you doing?
- 请问，你在做什么？Qǐngwèn, nǐ zài zuò shénme?Excuse me, what are you doing?
Example conversation
Zihan enters the room and sees Junjie staring at a book.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你在做什么？Jùnjié, nǐ zài zuò shénme?Junjie, what are you doing?
- 俊杰 Junjie我在看书。Wǒ zài kàn shū.I am reading a book.
- 梓涵 Zihan那好，我先走了。Nà hǎo, wǒ xiān zǒu le.Okay, I'm leaving now.
- 俊杰 Junjie再见。Zàijiàn.Goodbye.
