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How to Say ‘What do I need to do’ in Simplified Chinese

我需要做什么

wǒ xū yào zuò shén me

[wo xūyào zuò shénme]

💬 Usage Tip: Question words stay where the answer would go, so 什么 (shén me) "what" sits after the verb: 我需要做检查 becomes 我需要做什么?

Phrase Breakdown

我需要

wǒ xū yào

I need

需要 (xūyào) means 'to need'.

Example

我需要休息。

I need to rest.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[wo]

The speaker referring to themselves.

Example

我明天有空。

I am free tomorrow.

需要

xū yào

[xūyào]

to need

Verb expressing necessity.

Example

你需要多休息。

You need to rest more.

做什么

zuò shén me

to do what

做 (zuò) means 'to do', and 什么 (shénme) means 'what'.

Example

你想做什么？

What do you want to do?

Words in this phrase

做

zuò

[zuò]

to do; to undergo (a test)

General verb; used with medical tests like 'do a test'.

Example

我明天做手术。

I'm having surgery tomorrow.

什么

shén me

[shénme]

what

Question word asking about things.

Example

你想吃什么？

What do you want to eat?

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