干什么

• Pinyin: gàn shén me
• Hanzi breakdown: 干 (to do) + 什么 (what) — what are you doing?

Meaning

Do what?; What are you doing? A common question phrase for asking about actions.

A very common spoken phrase used to ask what someone is doing or planning to do. Interchangeable with 干嘛 in casual speech. Can also express mild disapproval: 你干什么呢！(What do you think you're doing?!). The tone determines whether it is a genuine question or a reproach.

Examples

1. 你在干什么？ What are you doing?
2. 周末你想干什么？ What do you want to do on the weekend?
3. 他不知道自己要干什么。 He doesn't know what he wants to do.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你明天干什么？(What are you doing tomorrow?)
• 放学以后干什么？(What are you doing after school?)

Don't Say

• 你干什么了明天？(Wrong word order — time words go before the verb in Chinese; say 你明天干什么)

Origin & History

Phrase combining 干 (to do) and 什么 (what) — literally 'do what?' A natural question form in Chinese where the question word stays in place.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal