何してるの？
Nani shiteru no?
The English abbreviation "wyd" is translated into Japanese as 何してるの？ (Nani shiteru no?)
This phrase is used to ask about someone's current activity. It also functions as a casual conversation starter, similar to how English speakers use "What's up?" to begin a chat.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 何 (what), してる (doing, which is the continuous form of the verb "to do") and の (a particle used to indicate a question or to seek an explanation).
Which one should you use?
While 何してるの？ is the standard casual form, you may encounter 何してる？, which drops the final particle to become even more blunt and casual. In very casual speech, してるの often contracts to してんの？, making it a colloquial abbreviation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 何してるの？ is casual. For polite or formal situations, you should use 何をしてますか？ Forms like 何してる？ or 何してんの？ are highly informal or colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
Dropping the final particle の from 何してるの？ to create 何してる？ makes the question more casual and blunt.
How do you pronounce it?
Nani shiteru no?
Did you know?
- While English uses 'wyd' as a text abbreviation, Japanese users often use the single character 何？ (what) to achieve the same purpose in messaging apps.
- If you use the contracted version してんの？ with a superior or a stranger, it can sound incredibly rude or even confrontational. It carries a tone of 'What on earth are you doing?' rather than a friendly 'What's up?'
- Answering 何してるの？ with 別に (betsu ni) translates to 'nothing in particular' but can make the speaker sound moody or dismissive.
Examples in context
- 今、何してるの？ima, nani shiteru no?What are you doing right now?
- 夜、何してるの？yoru, nani shiteru no?What are you doing tonight?
- 家で何してるの？ie de nani shiteru no?What are you doing at home?
Example conversation
Yui sends a text to Kenta to check on him.
- 結衣 Yui健太、今何してるの？Kenta, ima nani shiteru no?Kenta, what are you doing now?
- 健太 Kentaゲームしてるよ。geemu shiteru yo.I am playing a game.
- 結衣 Yuiそうなんだ。sou nanda.I see.
- 健太 Kenta結衣は？Yui wa?How about you, Yui?
