Chinese phrases
How to say what is your job in Chinese
To ask “What is your job?” in Chinese, say 你做什么工作？ (nǐ zuò shén me gōng zuò), “what work do you do?” Among friends, 你是做什么的？ (nǐ shì zuò shén me de) is just as common.
你做什么工作
what do you do for work?
工作 (gōng zuò) is both the noun “job” and the verb “to work.”
Ways to say what is your job
你做什么工作
Everydaywhat do you do for work?
The standard question. Fine with anyone.
你是做什么的
Everydaywhat do you do?
Casual and very common, at dinners and parties too.
你在哪里上班
With friendswhere do you work?
Asks where, not what. Casual, with people your age.
您在哪里工作
Formalwhere do you work? (polite)
To an older person or a new business contact.
您在哪里高就
Formalwhere do you work? (very polite)
Very polite and a little old-fashioned. Older people and business contacts use it. Between friends it sounds like a joke.
How to answer
我是老师
I’m a teacher
我是 + your job.
我在银行工作
I work at a bank
我在 + the place + 工作.
我做设计
I work in design
我做 + your field. Good for jobs without a simple title. 我是做设计的 is just as common.
我还在上学
I’m still studying
For school and university students.
我在找工作
I’m looking for a job
Between jobs.
我退休了
I’m retired
The 了 says it has already happened.
Common mistakes
Saying 我工作在银行
The place comes before the verb in Chinese. Say 我在银行工作.
Adding 一个 before your job
我是一个老师 is correct grammar, but it sounds translated. Say 我是老师.
Asking 你的工作是什么
It is not wrong, but it sounds translated from English. Ask 你做什么工作 or 你是做什么的.
Asking a stranger 你是干什么的
Between friends, 你是干什么的 is fine. From a stranger, the blunt 干 can sound like a guard asking “What are you doing here?” With people you don’t know, use 做.
At a dinner
你做什么工作？
Qiqi: What do you do?
我是英语老师。你呢？
Leon: I’m an English teacher. And you?
我在一家公司做设计。
Qiqi: I’m a designer at a company.
做设计挺有意思的！
Leon: Design sounds fun!
