你在看什么？
nǐ zài kàn shénme?
The English phrase "what are you looking at?" is translated into Chinese as 你在看什么？ (nǐ zài kàn shénme?)
This phrase is used to ask someone what they are currently observing. While it can be a neutral inquiry, if said with a sharp tone, it can be used aggressively to challenge someone staring at you.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from 你 (you), 在 (a marker for ongoing action), 看 (look) and 什么 (what).
Which one should you use?
The form 你看什么？ is an informal version where the progressive marker is dropped. This makes the question more abrupt and is common in casual, rapid speech. The form 你看什么呢？ is another informal way to ask the question among friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 你看什么呢？ is used informally among friends. The shortened form 你看什么？ is also informal and can feel quite abrupt.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the phrase is expressed as 你睇緊乜嘢？
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ zài kàn shénme?
Did you know?
- The word for 'look' or 'see', 看, is composed of the characters for a 'hand' over an 'eye'. This visual construction reflects the physical act of covering or shielding one's eyes to see more clearly.
- Using the phrase 你看什么？ during a heated argument is a common trope in Chinese cinema to signal the start of a street fight.
- If you want to sound extremely annoyed or confrontational, you might replace the neutral 'what' with 什么东西, literally 'what thing'. Saying 你在看什么东西？ adds a layer of contempt to the person being stared at.
Examples in context
- 你在看什么？What are you looking at?
- 看什么看？What are you looking at, huh?
Example conversation
In a living room, 晓雯 notices 志强 staring at his phone.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，你在看什么？Zhìqiáng, nǐ zài kàn shénme?Zhiqiang, what are you looking at?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我在看新闻。Wǒ zài kàn xīnwén.I am looking at the news.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen有什么有趣的消息吗？Yǒu shénme yǒuqù de xiāoxi ma?Is there any interesting news?
- 志强 Zhiqiang没有，没什么特别的。Méiyǒu, méi shénme tèbié de.No, nothing special.
