干吗

• Pinyin: gàn má
• Hanzi breakdown: 干 = simplified character meaning to do (in this context); 吗 = 口 (mouth) + 马 (horse, phonetic), question particle

Meaning

What for? Why? What are you doing? A casual way to ask about someone's purpose or action.

An informal spoken expression used to ask what someone is doing or why they are doing something. Can express curiosity, surprise, or mild annoyance depending on tone. Sometimes written as 干嘛.

Examples

1. 你干吗呢？我找了你半天。 What are you doing? I've been looking for you for ages.
2. 你拿我的东西干吗？ What are you taking my stuff for?
3. 周末你打算干吗？ What are you planning to do this weekend?

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, everyday, casual

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你干吗去？(Where are you going? / What are you up to?)
• 大热天的，你出去干吗？(It's so hot, what are you going out for?)

Don't Say

• 请问您干吗？(Don't use 干吗 in formal or polite speech — it sounds rude with 您; use 请问您要做什么 instead)

Origin & History

Combination of 干 (to do) and 吗 (question particle), a colloquial contraction of 干什么 (do what).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal