“What do you do” in Japanese is お仕事は何ですか (おしごとはなんですか), pronounced oshigoto wa nan desu ka.
Pronunciation
The phrase has 10 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or use the play button above for the whole phrase:
How to use it
Polite way to ask about someone’s job. Answers are in jobs in Japanese.
Example sentences
- お仕事は何ですか。おしごとはなんですか。What do you do for work?
- 会社員です。かいしゃいんです。I’m an office worker.
Quick practice
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Related phrases
趣味は何ですかWhat are your hobbiesアニメは好きですかDo you like anime日本語を勉強していますI'm learning Japanese日本語はまだ下手ですMy Japanese is not goodゆっくり話してくださいPlease speak slowlyもう一度お願いしますSay that again日本語で何と言いますかHow do you say it in Japaneseどういう意味ですかWhat does it mean
FAQ
How do you say What do you do in Japanese?
What do you do in Japanese is お仕事は何ですか (おしごとはなんですか), pronounced “oshigoto wa nan desu ka”.
How do you write What do you do in Japanese?
It's written お仕事は何ですか with kanji, or おしごとはなんですか in hiragana. Both are read oshigoto wa nan desu ka.