što radiš?
The English phrase "what are you doing?" is translated into Croatian as što radiš?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their current activity or their general life situation.
Which one should you use?
While što radiš? focuses on current or general activity, the phrase Čime se bavite? is used specifically in formal settings to inquire about someone's profession (meaning "What do you do?").
How does it change in a sentence?
The form što radiš? is the singular informal version. When you are addressing multiple people or using the formal "you", you should use the form što radite?
Did you know?
- While što radiš? asks about an activity, if you ask a friend Što radiš? in a certain tone, they might interpret it as 'What is wrong with you?' or 'What are you up to?' in a suspicious way.
- Croatian does not have a separate present continuous tense. The phrase što radiš? covers both 'what do you do' and 'what are you doing' depending on context.
- The verb in što radiš? comes from the same root as the word for 'work', meaning the distinction between 'doing' and 'working' is often blurred in daily speech.
Examples in context
- Dobar dan! Što radite?Good day! What are you doing?
- Bok! Što radiš?Hello! What are you doing?
Example conversation
Mateo calls Mia on the phone while she is at home.
- MateoHej Mia, što radiš?Hey Mia, what are you doing?
- MiaSamo gledam televiziju. A ti?Just watching television. And you?
- MateoSlušam glazbu i odmaram se.I am listening to music and resting.
- MiaZvuči kao lijep dan.Sounds like a nice day.
