How do you say "What are you doing?" in Japanese?

"What are you doing?" in Japanese is "なにをしていますか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘What are you doing?’ in Japanese

Q: What does "なにをしていますか。" mean in English?

"なにをしていますか。" means "What are you doing?" in English. Usage tip: [なにをしていますか] can mean “What are you doing (right now)?” OR “What do you do (in general)?” Context decides.

なにをしていますか。

💬 Usage Tip: [なにをしていますか] can mean “What are you doing (right now)?” OR “What do you do (in general)?” Context decides.

🇯🇵 In Japan: With strangers, adding a topic like [おしごと] makes it clearer and less sudden.

Phrase Breakdown

なにをなにを

nah-nee

what (object marker を)

なに = what. を marks the thing you do. Say it smoothly as one chunk: なにを.

Example

なにを食べますか。

What will you eat?

していますしています

shee

are doing / do (polite)

Progressive/habitual polite form: “(you) are doing.” Used for current action or regular activity depending on context.

Example

いま、電話をしています。

I’m on the phone right now.

かか

kah

question marker

Makes the sentence a polite question. Intonation usually rises slightly at the end.

Example

忙しいですか。

Are you busy?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

なになに

[nani]

what

Asks what activity/job someone does when combined with をしていますか.

Example

いま、なにをしていますか。

What are you doing now?

をを

[o]

(object marker) indicates what is acted on

Marks the direct object of the verb: なにをする (do what).

Example

しごとをしています。

I’m doing work. / I’m working.

しし

[shi]

do (stem); make

Stem of する. In this pattern, it forms しています (am doing / currently do).

Example

いま、しごとをしています。

I’m working right now.

てて

[te]

te-form marker (linking)

Connects to いる/います to form an ongoing action/state (〜ている).

Example

いま、なにをしていますか。

What are you doing now?

いい

[i]

to be (informal); exist (for people/animals)

From いる. In 〜ている, it means “be doing.”

Example

いま、しごとをしています。

I’m working right now.

ますます

[masu]

polite ending (masu-form)

Polite verb ending used in questions and statements.

Example

なにをしていますか。

What are you doing?

かか

[ka]

question particle

Placed at the end to make a question in polite speech.

Example

しごとはなにをしていますか。

What do you do for work?

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