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How to Say ‘Do you work in design?’ in Simplified Chinese

你是做设计的吗?

nǐ shì zuò shè jì de ma

[nee shir dzwo shèjì de ma]

💬 Usage Tip: 做…的 is a casual way to name someone's line of work. For example, 你是做IT的吗? "Are you in IT?"

Phrase Breakdown

你是

nǐ shì

are you

是 means 'to be'. Here it starts a question about someone's job.

Example

你是老师吗?

Are you a teacher?

Words in this phrase

你

nǐ

[nee]

you

The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.

Example

如果对方和你年纪差不多,可以说“认识你”。

If the other person is about your age, you can say “nice to meet you” with 你.

是

shì

[shir]

to be

The verb “to be,” used to identify or describe a situation.

Example

你是第一次来,所以我给你介绍一下。

Since it’s your first time here, I’ll introduce things to you.

做设计的吗?

zuò shè jì de ma

someone who works in design?

做……的 means 'someone who does…' and is used for occupations. 吗 makes it a yes/no question.

Example

他是做生意的。

He does business (he's a businessman).

Words in this phrase

做

zuò

[dzwo]

to do

A very common verb meaning to perform an action.

Example

现在要做什么?

What do we need to do now?

设计

shè jì

[shèjì]

design

Creating plans or styles for products, clothes, etc.

Example

她学服装设计。

She studies fashion design.

的

de

[de]

nominalizing particle (one who…)

Turns 做+field into 'someone who works in it'.

Example

他是做生意的。

He's in business.

吗

ma

[ma]

question particle

A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.

Example

你是第一次来吗?这里的“吗”表示提问。

Is this your first time here? Here, 吗 marks a question.

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