How to Say ‘What do you do?’ in Japanese
なにをしますか。
なにをしますか。
💬 Usage Tip: This can mean “What do you do (in your free time)?” Add context: [ひまなとき、なにをしますか。]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking about hobbies is a safe small-talk topic in Japan, especially after exchanging names.
Phrase Breakdown
なになに
what
Question word meaning “what.” Used with を to ask what someone does.
なにをたべますか。
What will you eat?
をを
object marker
Marks the direct object of the verb. Pronounced “o.”
えいがをみます。
I watch a movie.
しますします
do (polite)
Polite form of する (“to do”). Also used to form many nouns + します (“do ~”): さんぽします, りょうりをします, etc.
しゅくだいをします。
I do homework.
かか
question particle
Placed at the end to make a question in polite speech.
いきますか。
Will you go?
Word-by-Word Breakdown
なになに
[nani]
what
Interrogative word meaning “what.” Used to ask about an object or activity (e.g., “What do you do?”).
しゅうまつに、なにをしますか。
What do you do on the weekend?
をを
[o]
(object marker)
Object particle. Marks the direct object of an action (what you do, watch, make, etc.).
えいがをみます。
I watch a movie/movies.
しし
[shi]
do (stem of する)
Verb stem of する (“to do”). Combined with ます to make polite present/future forms (します).
まいにち、うんどうをし ます。
I exercise every day.
ますます
[masu]
(polite verb ending)
Polite ending attached to verb stems to make polite present/future statements (e.g., します, みます, つくります).
よるに、ほんをよみ ます。
I read books at night.
かか
[ka]
(question marker)
Question particle placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question in polite speech.
いま、ひまですか。か
Are you free right now?
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