How to Say ‘What do you want to do?’ in Simplified Chinese
你想干什么？
nǐ xiǎng gàn shén me
[nee shyang gàn shénme]
💬 Usage Tip: Question words like 什么 stay in the same spot the answer would go, so there's no reshuffling: 你想吃什么？ "What do you want to eat?"
🇨🇳 In China: 干什么 is blunt and casual. Said sharply, it can sound like "What do you think you're doing?", so tone of voice matters a lot here.
Phrase Breakdown
你想
nǐ xiǎng
you want
你 (you) + 想 (to want). Both are third tone, so 你 changes to a rising tone: ní xiǎng.
你想喝水吗？
Do you want to drink some water?
Words in this phrase
你
nǐ
[nee]
you
The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.
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.
想
xiǎng
[shyang]
to want; would like to
Used to express desire, intention, or preference in a polite and natural way.
我想坐靠窗的位置。
I would like to sit by the window.
干什么？
gàn shén me
to do what?
干 (gàn, to do) + 什么 (what). It is a colloquial way to ask what someone is doing or wants to do. It can sound confrontational.
你在干什么？
What are you doing?
Words in this phrase
干什么
gàn shén me
[gàn shénme]
to do what; why
Asks what someone is doing or for what purpose; can sound teasing.
你在这儿干什么？
What are you doing here?
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