How to Say ‘What do you do?’ in Japanese
何をしますか。
nani o shi masu ka
[na-ni o shee mahss kah]
💬 Usage Tip: 何を is said (nani o), and を is always pronounced (o), never (wo).
Phrase Breakdown
何
nani
[na-ni]
what
Question word used to ask about things or content.
これは何ですか。
What is this?
を
o
[o]
object marker
A particle that marks the direct object of a verb or the route along which someone moves.
この道を歩きます。
I walk along this road.
し
shi
[shee]
do (stem)
The stem of する, used to turn nouns like 確認 into verbs such as 'to check.'
確認しお願いします。
Please check it.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
A polite ending added to verb stems in non-past affirmative forms.
水を飲みます。
I drink water.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
か is placed at the end of a sentence to mark it as a question in polite Japanese.
先生ですか。
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