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干什么 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
干什么gànshénmewhat are you doing?HSK 1, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #892, Easy
干什么gànshénmewhat's he up to?HSK 1, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #892, Easy
gànshénme(gan4shen2me5) T4
  1. 1what are you doing?
  2. 2what's he up to?
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

干什么(幹甚麼)gànshénme(gan4shen2me5)

干什么 (gàn shénme) translates to 'what are you doing?' or 'what's he up to?'. This phrase is commonly used in casual conversations to inquire about someone's current activity or intentions, often reflecting curiosity or concern.

Strokes10Frequency#892DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, asking '干什么' reflects a community-oriented mindset where people show interest in each other's activities, which is a value in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a busy bee (干, gàn) buzzing around, trying to find out what everyone is doing (什么, shénme). Picture the bee asking each flower, 'What are you doing?' to gather the sweetest nectar.

Meanings of 干什么

gànshénme(gan4shen2me5)
1what are you doing?
2what's he up to?
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 干什么

干什么Simplified
幹甚麼Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 干什么

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Podcast: 干什么

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AI Study Notes for 干什么

Usage Notes

This phrase is informal and primarily used in casual contexts. Learners often confuse 干什么 with the more formal alternatives; however, it's essential to use it appropriately among friends or family. Be mindful of the rising tone in '什么' to ensure clarity.

HSK Study Tips

干什么 is not part of HSK levels but connects to basic conversational phrases. Students should focus on recognizing it in dialogues and practicing its use in everyday situations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often drop the '什么' when asking, saying just '干' instead, which loses the meaning. Always use the full phrase: 干什么 to convey the correct question.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 干什么

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Component Characters

干gāndry
HSK 33 strokes十
View full entry
什shénwhat
HSK 14 strokes亻
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么máexclamatory final particle
HSK 13 strokes丿
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How to say what are you doing? in Chinese

“what are you doing?” in Chinese is干什么gànshénme

干什么 (gàn shénme) translates to 'what are you doing?' or 'what's he up to?'. This phrase is commonly used in casual conversations to inquire about someone's current activity or intentions, often reflecting curiosity or concern.

When to use 干什么

This phrase is informal and primarily used in casual contexts. Learners often confuse 干什么 with the more formal alternatives; however, it's essential to use it appropriately among friends or family. Be mindful of the rising tone in '什么' to ensure clarity.

What learners get wrong

Learners often drop the '什么' when asking, saying just '干' instead, which loses the meaning. Always use the full phrase: 干什么 to convey the correct question.

Write 干什么

干
什
么

Practice writing 干什么 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 干什么

You can respond by describing your current activity, such as '我在学习' (wǒ zài xuéxí) meaning 'I am studying.'

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