Chinese–EnglishWith examples

干吗

gàn má · gan ma

Traditional 幹嗎

HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. see 幹嘛 / 干嘛 (gàn má)
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In a conversation

0:17 cartoon

Moving the plant

  1. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)在(zài)干吗(gànmá)？

    What are you doing?

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)在(zài)搬(bān)这个(zhège)大(dà)花盆(huāpén)。

    I am moving this big plant.

  3. Liangliang

    搬(bān)它(tā)干吗(gànmá)？

    Why move it?

  4. Dengdeng

    它(tā)要(yào)晒太阳(shàitàiyáng)。那边(nàbian)太阳(tàiyang)好(hǎo)。

    It needs sun. The sun is better over there.

  5. Liangliang

    可是(kěshì)太阳(tàiyang)也(yě)会(huì)走(zǒu)。你(nǐ)一天(yītiān)要(yào)搬(bān)几次(jǐcì)？

    But the sun moves too. How many times a day will you move it?

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

你(nǐ)觉(jué)得(de)我(wǒ)在(zài)干(gàn)吗(má)呢(ne)？

What do you think I was doing?

Tatoeba: Chinese by mtdot · English by Eldad · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

你(nǐ)干(gàn)吗(má)不(bù)先(xiān)打(dǎ)个(ge)电(diàn)话(huà)问(wèn)问(wèn)他(tā)？

Why don't you give him a call and ask first?

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How to write

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
干
gàn

to do; to work; to manage; capable

吗
ma

(question particle for "yes-no" questions)

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with GExplore words in context