How to Say ‘Has work been tiring lately?’ in Simplified Chinese
最近工作累不累？
zuì jìn gōng zuò lèi bù lèi
[dzway-jeen gong-dzwaw lay boo lay]
💬 Usage Tip: [累不累？] uses the common Chinese "A-not-A" question pattern: adjective, then [不], then the same adjective again. You can ask many everyday questions this way, like [忙不忙？] "busy or not?"
Phrase Breakdown
最近
zuì jìn
[dzway-jeen]
recently; lately
最近 sets the time frame and asks about the person’s current work situation.
问朋友“最近工作累不累？”时，“最近”表示近来的状态。
When asking a friend, “Has work been tiring lately?”, “zuìjìn” refers to their recent situation.
工作
gōng zuò
[gong-dzwaw]
work; job
工作 refers to a person’s job or work responsibilities.
见到姐夫时问“最近工作累不累？”很自然，这里的“工作”就是上班的事。
When meeting your brother-in-law, asking “Has work been tiring lately?” sounds natural; “gōngzuò” here means job matters.
累不累
lèi bù lèi
tired or not?; is it tiring?
A yes-no question asking whether the work is tiring.
今天工作累不累？
Is work tiring today?
Words in this phrase
累
lèi
[lay]
tired
The second 累 completes the A-not-A question pattern: tired or not tired.
“最近工作累不累？”里的第二个“累”完成了问句结构。
The second “lèi” in “Has work been tiring lately?” completes the question structure.
不
bù
[boo]
not
不 links the repeated adjective to form an A-not-A question, a very common spoken pattern.
“最近工作累不累？”里的“不”让句子变成自然的问法。
The “bù” in “Has work been tiring lately?” turns the sentence into a natural question.
累
lèi
[lay]
tired
The second 累 completes the A-not-A question pattern: tired or not tired.
“最近工作累不累？”里的第二个“累”完成了问句结构。
The second “lèi” in “Has work been tiring lately?” completes the question structure.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Shanghai business dinners require real Mandarin skills. This app’s scenario-based approach meant I could keep up with clients after just a month of practice.”
Ryan M., 36, Consultant
“Spent three months in Taiwan and this app was my lifeline. The tonal practice with real scenarios helped me sound less like a textbook and more like a person.”
Laura H., 28, Photographer
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer