How to Say ‘What do you do for work, Yui?’ in Japanese
ゆいさんのお仕事は何ですか？
yui san no o shigoto wa nan desu ka
[YOO-ee sahn noh oh shee-goh-toh wah nan dess kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese people often use the other person's name with さん where English would say "you". Saying あなた "you" directly can sound cold or overly intimate.
Phrase Breakdown
ゆいさんのお仕事は
yui san no o shigoto wa
Yui's job (topic)
'No' shows possession (Yui's). 'O-shigoto' is the polite word for 'job'. The は is read 'wa'.
田中さんのお仕事は大変です。
Mr. Tanaka's job is tough.
Words in this phrase
ゆい
yui
[YOO-ee]
Yui (given name)
A common Japanese female given name.
ゆいさんは元気です。
Yui is well.
さん
san
[sahn]
Mr.; Ms. (polite name suffix)
Polite suffix attached to another person's name.
ゆいさんは看護師です。
Yui is a nurse.
の
no
[noh]
of; 's
A particle that connects nouns, often showing possession or description.
今日の仕込みでのは名詞をつなぎます。
In kyou no shikomi, no connects nouns.
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.
チケットを二枚お願いします。
Two tickets, please.
仕事
shigoto
[shee-goh-toh]
work; job
Refers to work, occupation, or a job role; common in business and career conversations.
今は営業の仕事をしています。
Right now I work in sales.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
何ですか？
nan desu ka
what is it?
Asks 'what?' Raise your voice slightly at the end.
名前は何ですか？
What is your name?
Words in this phrase
何
nan
[nan]
what
何 means what; in 何時 it helps ask 'what time'.
何時に始まりますか。
What time does it start?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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