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。
ima shigoto wa nani o shi te i masu ka
[ee-mah shee-goh-toh wah nah-nee oh shee teh ee mahss kah]
💬 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
ima
[ee-mah]
now; currently
Makes the question about the present situation (current job), not past or future.
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
shigoto
[shee-goh-toh]
work; job
Topic “job/work.” In introductions, this often means your occupation.
いま、しごとはなにをしていますか。
Right now, what do you do for work?
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker (as for...)
Marks しごと as the topic; pronounced “wa.”
しごとはなにをしていますか。
What do you do for work?
なに
nani
[nah-nee]
what
Asks the kind/content of work you do.
しごとはなにをしていますか。
What do you do for work?
を
o
[oh]
(object marker) indicates what is acted on
Marks なに as the object of する (to do).
なにをしていますか。
What are you doing?
しています
shi te i masu
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).
いま、べんきょうしています。
I’m studying now.
Words in this phrase
し
shi
[shee]
do (stem); make
Stem of する. Used to form しています (am doing/currently do).
かいしゃでしごとをしています。
I work at a company.
て
te
[teh]
te-form marker (linking)
Forms the 〜ている pattern for ongoing/current situations.
いま、しごとをしています。
I’m working right now.
い
i
[ee]
to be (informal); exist (for people/animals)
From いる. With 〜ている it expresses “be doing.”
しごとをしています。
I’m working. / I currently work.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite ending (masu-form)
Polite ending used in everyday polite conversation.
しごとをしています。
I work (polite).
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
Makes the sentence a question: 〜ますか.
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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