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How to Say ‘What kind of work do you do now?’ in Japanese

いま、しごとはなにをしていますか。

いま、しごとはなにをしていますか。

💬 Usage Tip: [いま] makes it “currently.” Useful if someone changed jobs recently or is between jobs.

🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, job changes happen, but asking with [いま] politely acknowledges that people’s situations can change.

Phrase Breakdown

いまいま

now; currently

Used to ask about the current situation (these days / at present).

Example

いま、ひまです。

I’m free right now.

しごとしごと

work; job

Refers to one’s job/occupation or work tasks in general.

Example

しごとがたくさんあります。

I have a lot of work.

はは

topic marker “as for …”

Marks the topic of the sentence. Pronounced “wa” though written は.

Example

これはほんです。

As for this, it’s a book. / This is a book.

なになに

what

Question word used to ask what something is/what someone does.

Example

なにがすきですか。

What do you like?

をを

object marker

Marks the direct object of an action. Pronounced “o” though written を.

Example

コーヒーをのみます。

I drink coffee.

していますしています

am doing; do (polite ongoing/habitual)

〜しています is the polite form of 〜している, used for actions in progress or habitual actions (including one’s job: しごとをしています).

Example

いま、べんきょうしています。

I’m studying now.

かか

(question marker)

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

Example

だいじょうぶですか。

Are you okay?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

いまいま

[ima]

now; currently

Makes the question about the present situation (current job), not past or future.

Example

いま、しごとはなにをしていますか。

Right now, what do you do for work?

しごとしごと

[shigoto]

work; job

Topic “job/work.” In introductions, this often means your occupation.

Example

いま、しごとはなにをしていますか。

Right now, 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。

What do you do for work?

なになに

[nani]

what

Asks the kind/content of work you do.

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 object of する (to do).

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)

Forms the 〜ている pattern for ongoing/current situations.

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 expresses “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 used in everyday polite conversation.

Example

しごとをしています。

I work (polite).

かか

[ka]

question particle

Makes the sentence 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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