New here? This is lesson 65 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.
What do you do? in Traditional Chinese
Yi-Jun brings Maya to Zhi-Ming’s design studio, which hires freelancers. Maya says she does web design and takes freelance projects. Yi-Jun adds that Maya is a good freelancer.
Learn to ask about someone’s job and describe where you work, what you do, or whether you are looking for a job.
You will also practice talking about full-time work and taking a break. Then use the lines to speak for yourself.
By the end of this lesson
Ask what someone does for work and describe your own work situation.
- 你是做什麼工作的？What do you do for work?
- 我在設計公司上班I work at a design firm.
- 我做網頁設計I do web design.
- 我在找工作I’m looking for a job.
- 我做全職I work full time.
- 我現在在休息I’m taking a break now.
Scene — at the design studio
Yi-Jun brings Maya to Zhi-Ming’s small design studio in Taipei. The studio hires freelancers, and Maya does web design independently.
Yi-Jun is quick to recommend her friend. Zhi-Ming asks Maya about her work, while the three of them share what they do and whether they are working right now.
Learn — talk about work
These six lines help you ask what someone does and give a clear answer.
Listen for the difference between naming a workplace, describing a kind of work, and saying what is happening now.
你是做什麼工作的？
What do you do for work?
When to use it: Ask this when you want to know someone’s occupation.
The question word stays where the answer would go.
Say it: The final particle has a neutral tone.
我在設計公司上班
I work at a design firm.
When to use it: Say this to name the kind of company where you work.
Place the workplace before the word for going to work.
我做網頁設計
I do web design.
When to use it: Say this when web design is the work you do.
我在找工作
I’m looking for a job.
When to use it: Say this when you are currently searching for work.
Here, 在 before the action shows that the search is ongoing.
我做全職
I work full time.
When to use it: Use this to describe your work as full time.
全職工作 describes full-time work, whether or not you have one employer.
我現在在休息
I’m taking a break now.
When to use it: Say this when you are resting at the moment.
The word for now comes before the ongoing action.
Story — three working lives
Listen as Yi-Jun introduces Maya to Zhi-Ming at his studio. Each person has a different work situation, and Yi-Jun makes sure Zhi-Ming hears her opinion of Maya’s work.
Maya and Yi-Jun also talk about a full-time schedule and taking a quick break.
Yi-Jun志明，瑪雅是接案的。Zhi-Ming, Maya is a freelancer.
Zhi-Ming你是做什麼工作的？What do you do for work?
Maya我做網頁設計，也接案。I do web design and freelance.- Yi-Jun她做得很好喔。She does great work.
- Maya你呢？And you?
- Zhi-Ming我在設計公司上班。I work at a design firm.
- Zhi-Ming我在設計公司全職上班。I work full time at a design firm.
- Yi-Jun我在找工作。I’m looking for a job.
- Zhi-Ming我們也找接案的人。We’re also looking for freelancers.
- Yi-Jun瑪雅，要不要休息一下？Maya, want to take a break?
- Maya我現在在休息。I’m taking a break now.
- Yi-Jun你是做全職的嗎？Do you work full time?
- Maya我做全職工作。I work full time.
- Zhi-Ming瑪雅，下午可以聊嗎？Maya, can we talk this afternoon?
- Maya可以啊。Sure.
Practice — ask and answer
Try ten short exercises about work and work situations.
Choose the question or answer that fits, and notice when a line describes your usual work versus what you are doing right now.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Build the line
Build the line
I work at a design firm.
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I do web design.
我做____
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have told Zhi-Ming what you do. Ask about him briefly.
Build the line
Build the line
I work full time.
Tap the words in order.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
我在找工作
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
你是全職工作嗎？
Do you work full time?
And you reply with:
Match the pairs
Traditional Chinese
你是做什麼工作的？Drop the English here我做網頁設計Drop the English here我在找工作Drop the English here我做全職Drop the English hereEnglish
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
What do you do for work?
你是做什麼____的？
What do you say?
What do you say?
Yi-Jun has been working for a while. Offer her a short break.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — your turn at the studio
Play Maya at Zhi-Ming’s studio. Ask him what he does, describe your own work, and answer Yi-Jun’s question about your schedule.
Listen to each person before you respond, then say your line aloud.
- Maya meets Zhi-Ming at the studio.
- Maya (you)Ask Zhi-Ming what he does for work.
Ask Zhi-Ming what he does for work.
你是做什麼工作的？
What do you do for work?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Traditional Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 你是做什麼工作的？ | What do you do for work? | |
| 我在設計公司上班 | I work at a design firm. | |
| 我做網頁設計 | I do web design. | |
| 我在找工作 | I’m looking for a job. | |
| 我做全職 | I work full time. | |
| 我現在在休息 | I’m taking a break now. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep today’s work conversations handy in Yak Cards.
Review the question and several answers before your next introduction.
Open Yak Cards