How do you say "What do you do for work?" in Japanese?

"What do you do for work?" in Japanese is "しごとはなにをしていますか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "しごとはなにをしていますか。" mean in English?

"しごとはなにをしていますか。" means "What do you do for work?" in English. Usage tip: [しごとは] sets “work” as the topic. This is a natural, polite small-talk question.

❓👉💼

How to Say ‘What do you do for work?’ in Japanese

しごとはなにをしていますか。

💬 Usage Tip: [しごとは] sets “work” as the topic. This is a natural, polite small-talk question.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Very common at networking events, parties, and first meetings—usually not considered too personal.

Phrase Breakdown

しごとはしごとは

as for your job, / regarding work,

しごと = job/work. は sets it as the topic: 'As for your job...'.

Example

しごとはいそがしいです。

Work is busy.

なにをなにを

what (object marker を)

Asks what kind of work/action you do, tied to the topic 'job'.

Example

なにをしますか。

What will you do?

していますかしていますか

do you do (it)? / are you doing (it)?

With job context, it naturally means 'What do you do for work?'

Example

しごとはなにをしていますか。

What do you do for work?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

しごとしごと

[shigoto]

work; job

Sets the topic as “job/work.” Common polite question when meeting someone.

Example

しごとはなにをしていますか。

What do you do for work?

はは

[wa]

topic marker (as for...)

Marks しごと as the topic. Pronounced “wa.”

Example

しごとはなにをしていますか。

As for your job, what do you do?

なになに

[nani]

what

Asks the content/type of job or work when paired with していますか.

Example

しごとはなにをしていますか。

What do you do for work?

をを

[o]

(object marker) indicates what is acted on

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

Example

なにをしていますか。

What are you doing?

しし

[shi]

do (stem); make

Stem of する, used to form しています (am doing / currently do).

Example

かいしゃでしごとをしています。

I work at a company.

てて

[te]

te-form marker (linking)

Connects to いる/います to express an ongoing action/state.

Example

いま、しごとをしています。

I’m working right now.

いい

[i]

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

From いる. With 〜ている it means “be doing.”

Example

しごとをしています。

I’m working. / I currently work.

ますます

[masu]

polite ending (masu-form)

Polite ending that makes the question suitable in formal conversation.

Example

しごとをしています。

I work (polite).

かか

[ka]

question particle

Turns the sentence into a question: 〜ますか.

Example

いま、しごとはなにをしていますか。

Right now, what do you do for work?

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