mit csinálsz?
mit csinálsz? is the Hungarian phrase for "what are you doing?"
The phrase is used to ask someone about their current activity. You can add the word most, which means "now", to the phrase to ask Mit csinálsz most? ("What are you doing now?").
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mit (what) and csinálsz (you are doing/you do).
Which one should you use?
While mit csinálsz? is the standard informal version, mit csinál? is a formal or polite way to ask the question when addressing a single person.
How does it change in a sentence?
The second-person singular form csinálsz is used specifically for friends, family or people you are on informal terms with.
Did you know?
- To ask what someone does for a living, Hungarians use a different verb entirely, foglalkozik, rather than the general csinál used in mit csinálsz?
- While mit csinálsz? asks about an activity, using it with a sarcastic tone can be a way to scold someone for doing something wrong or mischievous.
- The suffix '-t' in mit is an accusative marker, meaning the word itself carries the grammatical weight of being the 'object' of the action.
Example conversation
László calls Anna on the phone.
- LászlóSzia Anna, mit csinálsz?Hi Anna, what are you doing?
- AnnaMost olvasok egy könyvet.I am reading a book right now.
- LászlóSzeretnél sétálni egyet?Would you like to go for a walk?
- AnnaIgen, nagyon szívesen!Yes, I would love to!
