24 Essential Japanese Phrases for “What Are You Doing?”

Wondering how to ask “What are you doing?” in Japanese? You’re in the right place!

Whether you’re chatting with friends or learning new expressions, having a variety of ways to ask “What are you doing?” keeps your Japanese fresh and fun. It’s a great phrase to connect with people and start conversations naturally.

Japanese has lots of ways to say this, from casual to polite, and even some super casual, native-like expressions. Each has its own vibe and context where it shines.

Getting comfortable with these phrases will boost your confidence and help you understand everyday Japanese better. Plus, it’s a fun way to dive into the nuances of the language!

Learning these phrases can also improve your listening skills—because you’ll start recognizing them in anime, dramas, and real-life chats.

Ready to explore 24 essential Japanese phrases for “What are you doing?”? Let’s jump right in and find your favorite expressions!

Understanding the Basics of Asking “What Are You Doing?” in Japanese

It all starts with the verb “to do” — in Japanese, that’s する (suru).

By learning the common question patterns around する, you’ll unlock a variety of ways to ask “What are you doing?” depending on who you’re talking to and how casual or formal you want to be.

Context really matters here—some phrases work best with friends, others with coworkers or strangers.

Sometimes, using a great beginner phrasebook can give you a perfect starting point for a cohesive understanding.

With practice, these phrases become second nature in daily conversations.

Try repeating them aloud or using apps to get comfortable with pronunciation and rhythm.

Part 1: Casual Suggestions

1. 何してる？ (Nani shiteru?) – nah-nee shee-teh-roo

This is the go-to casual way to ask “What are you doing?” among friends.

It comes from 何 (nani) meaning “what,” and してる (shiteru), the casual present progressive form of する (to do). It’s short, sweet, and super common.

Perfect for texts or in-person chats when you want to sound natural without being formal.

Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of “What’re you up to?”

You might also hear 何やってる？ (Nani yatteru?), which is very similar.

Try using this one first—it’s friendly and easy to remember!

2. 何してるの？ (Nani shiteru no?) – nah-nee shee-teh-roo noh

This adds the particle の (no) at the end for a slightly softer, more inquisitive tone.

It makes the question feel more like “What are you doing?” in a curious, friendly way. Great for casual conversations where you want to show interest.

The “no” here works like a softener or a way to seek explanation.

Be careful not to overuse it in very formal settings, as it’s quite casual.

Example: If your friend is quiet, you might ask, “何してるの？” to sound gentle and interested.

It’s a subtle way to connect and keep the conversation flowing.

3. 何やってる？ (Nani yatteru?) – nah-nee yah-teh-roo

Another casual option using やる (yaru), which also means “to do” but is more informal and energetic.

It’s often used among younger people or in casual settings, and it feels a bit more lively than してる.

Great for asking what someone is up to in a fun, informal vibe.

Keep in mind that やる can sometimes sound rough if used in the wrong context.

Example: “今、ゲーム何やってる？” (“Ima, geemu nani yatteru?”) means “What game are you playing now?”

This phrase keeps your Japanese sounding fresh and natural among friends.

4. 何してんの？ (Nani shiten no?) – nah-nee shee-ten noh

This is a contracted, more casual form of 何してるの？ often used in spoken Japanese.

It drops the “ru” sound for a quicker, more relaxed feel—perfect for very casual talk.

It’s handy when you want to sound like a native speaker in informal settings.

Just don’t use it in formal or polite conversations.

Example: When texting a close friend, you might type “何してんの？”

It’s a small tweak that makes your Japanese sound more natural and fluent.

5. 今何してる？ (Ima nani shiteru?) – ee-mah nah-nee shee-teh-roo

This phrase adds 今 (ima), meaning “now,” to ask “What are you doing right now?”

It’s a great way to check in on someone’s current activity casually.

Helps to specify time without complicating the sentence.

Common in texts or casual calls.

Example: “今何してる？遊ぼうよ！” (“Ima nani shiteru? Asobou yo!”) means “What are you doing now? Let’s hang out!”

Adding 今 makes your question more precise and engaging.

6. 何してるんだ？ (Nani shiteru n da?) – nah-nee shee-teh-roo n dah

This one uses んだ (n da) to add emphasis or explanation, often in casual or slightly assertive speech.

It can sound like “What exactly are you doing?” or “What are you doing, anyway?”

Useful when you’re curious or slightly surprised about someone’s action.

Be careful with tone—it can sound pushy if not used gently.

Example: If a friend is acting strange, you might ask, “何してるんだ？”

This phrase adds a bit of personality and emotion to your question.

7. 何やってんの？ (Nani yatten no?) – nah-nee yah-ten noh

A contracted, casual form of 何やってるの？ perfect for informal speech.

Sounds playful and relaxed, often used among close friends.

It keeps your Japanese sounding natural and native-like.

Ideal for casual chats or texting.

Example: “何やってんの？早く来て！” (“Nani yatten no? Hayaku kite!”) means “What are you doing? Come quickly!”

Use it to keep conversations light and friendly.

8. 何やってるの？ (Nani yatteru no?) – nah-nee yah-teh-roo noh

This is the full, polite casual form with the softening の (no) particle, just like 何してるの？ but using やる instead of する.

It’s great for showing curiosity without sounding too sharp or blunt.

Good for friends or acquaintances in a relaxed setting.

Example: “今、何やってるの？” (“Ima, nani yatteru no?”) means “What are you doing now?”

This phrase sounds friendly and approachable, perfect for everyday use.

Part 2: Polite & Formal Suggestions

9. 何をしていますか？ (Nani o shite imasu ka?) – nah-nee oh shee-teh ee-mah-su kah

This is the polite, formal way to ask “What are you doing?”

It uses 何を (nani o) meaning “what” as the direct object, しています (shite imasu) as the polite present progressive, and か (ka) to mark it as a question.

Perfect for work, strangers, or respectful contexts.

It sounds professional and courteous.

Example: At a meeting, you might ask, “今、何をしていますか？” (“Ima, nani o shite imasu ka?”)

Use this to keep your Japanese polished and respectful.

10. 今、何をされていますか？ (Ima, nani o sarete imasu ka?) – ee-mah nah-nee oh sah-reh-teh ee-mah-su kah

This is a very polite and humble way to ask “What are you doing now?” using the honorific form されています.

It’s used to show respect, especially to superiors or customers.

It’s a bit formal but important for business or formal social situations.

Example: You might say this to a client or senior colleague.

Try to remember this one for professional settings.

It’s a great phrase for showing respect while communicating clearly.

11. 何をなさっていますか？ (Nani o nasatte imasu ka?) – nah-nee oh nah-sah-tteh ee-mah-su kah

This is another polite and honorific form using なさる (nasaru), a respectful verb for “to do.”

It expresses high respect and is common in formal service or customer interactions.

It’s polite but can sound very formal, so use appropriately.

Example: In a customer service context, “何をなさっていますか？” is appropriate.

Great phrase to add to your formal Japanese toolkit.

Use it to sound very respectful and professional.

12. 何をしていますでしょうか？ (Nani o shite imasu deshou ka?) – nah-nee oh shee-teh ee-mah-su deh-shoh kah

This is a polite, tentative form often used to be extra polite or when asking indirectly.

でしょうか (deshou ka) softens the question, adding a humble tone.

It’s useful when you want to be gentle or careful in your speech.

Example: “今何をしていますでしょうか？” is a polite way to check in.

Good for formal emails or respectful queries.

Try it when you want to sound considerate and polite.

13. お仕事は何をされていますか？ (O-shigoto wa nani o sarete imasu ka?) – oh-shee-go-toh wah nah-nee oh sah-reh-teh ee-mah-su kah

This phrase specifically asks “What work are you doing?” using the honorific お仕事 (o-shigoto) for “work.”

It’s polite and great for professional questions about someone’s job.

Helps specify the context of “doing.”

Example: “今、お仕事は何をされていますか？” means “What work are you doing now?”

Perfect for formal and polite workplace chats.

Using お仕事 adds a respectful and clear tone.

14. ご趣味は何をされていますか？ (Go-shumi wa nani o sarete imasu ka?) – go-shoo-mee wah nah-nee oh sah-reh-teh ee-mah-su kah

This phrase asks “What hobbies are you doing?” using the honorific ご趣味 (go-shumi) for “hobbies.”

It’s polite and commonly used when asking about interests respectfully.

Great for formal social gatherings.

Example: “ご趣味は何をされていますか？” is a courteous way to ask about hobbies.

It’s a nice way to connect politely on a personal level.

Use it to show interest with respect.

15. 何をなさっていらっしゃいますか？ (Nani o nasatte irasshaimasu ka?) – nah-nee oh nah-sah-tteh ee-rah-sheh-ee-mah-su kah

This is a very formal, honorific expression combining なさる and いらっしゃる (irassharu), both respectful verbs.

It’s used to show deep respect in formal conversations.

Example: “今、何をなさっていらっしゃいますか？” is a very polite way to ask.

Not for everyday use, but excellent for very formal occasions.

Use it when utmost respect is required.

Adding this phrase to your formal Japanese arsenal shows advanced skill.

16. 何をご覧になっていますか？ (Nani o goran ni natte imasu ka?) – nah-nee oh go-rahn nee naht-teh ee-mah-su kah

This phrase literally means “What are you watching?” using the honorific ご覧になる (goran ni naru).

It’s a polite way to ask about what someone is looking at or doing that involves watching.

Useful in formal or polite situations.

Example: “今、何をご覧になっていますか？” is a respectful question for “What are you viewing?”

Good for polite inquiries about activities involving seeing or observing.

It’s a nice, nuanced way to ask “What are you doing?” in formal settings.

Part 3: Very Casual / Native-like Expressions

17. 何してんの？ (Nani shen no?) – nah-nee shen noh

This is a super casual, contracted slang version of 何してるの？ often heard among close friends or young people.

It drops and shortens syllables to sound very informal and native-like.

Great for text messages or casual speech.

Example: “今、何してんの？” means “What’re you doing now?” in a relaxed tone.

Use it only with people you’re very comfortable with.

It’ll help you sound like a local and fit in casually.

18. 今なにやってんの？ (Ima nani yatten no?) – ee-mah nah-nee yah-ten noh

This phrase adds 今 (ima) for “now” and uses the casual contracted form やってんの.

It’s a very native-sounding, casual expression for “What are you doing now?”

Perfect for everyday chats with friends.

Example: “今なにやってんの？遊ぼうよ！” means “What’re you doing now? Let’s hang out!”

Try using this to practice natural timing and flow.

It’s a phrase that instantly feels friendly and informal.

19. 何してんのさ？ (Nani shen no sa?) – nah-nee shen noh sah

This adds さ (sa) at the end, a casual particle to add emphasis or a playful tone.

It’s often used by men or young people to sound more laid-back or teasing.

Example: “何してんのさ？早く教えてよ！” means “What’re you doing, huh? Tell me quickly!”

Use this to add personality and playfulness to your speech.

Great for teasing or joking among friends.

Just watch your tone so it doesn’t come off as rude.

20. 何やってんの？ (Nani yatten no?) – nah-nee yah-ten noh

This is a casual, contracted form that’s very common in speech.

It’s direct but friendly, perfect for everyday conversation.

Example: “何やってんの？遅れてるよ！” means “What are you doing? You’re late!”

Great to learn because it’s heard a lot in real life and media.

Use it to sound natural and casual.

It’s one of the most versatile casual expressions.

21. 何してるって？ (Nani shiteru tte?) – nah-nee shee-teh-roo tte

This phrase uses って (tte) at the end, which can imply “What do you mean, what are you doing?” or “You ask what I’m doing?”

It’s casual, sometimes playful or slightly defensive.

Example: “何してるって？ゲームしてるよ！” means “What am I doing? I’m playing a game!”

Use it to sound conversational and natural in informal contexts.

It’s great for reacting or clarifying in chats.

Try it to add some attitude or humor to your Japanese.

22. 何してんだよ？ (Nani shen da yo?) – nah-nee shen dah yoh

This phrase adds だよ (da yo) for emphasis, often expressing frustration or surprise.

It’s casual and can sound rough if tone is off, so use carefully.

Example: “何してんだよ？もう遅いよ！” means “What are you doing? You’re already late!”

Use it in very casual settings with close friends.

It’s useful for sounding authentic in emotional conversations.

Practice tone to avoid sounding rude unintentionally.

23. 何してるんだってば！ (Nani shiterun datte ba!) – nah-nee shee-teh-run dah-tteh bah

This phrase adds ってば (tte ba), a particle used to emphasize or express impatience.

It’s very casual and used when you want to stress your question.

Example: “何してるんだってば！早く答えてよ！” means “What are you doing already? Answer quickly!”

Great for adding natural emotion and emphasis.

Use it carefully with close friends to avoid sounding harsh.

It’s a colorful way to express urgency or impatience in speech.

24. 何してんの、マジで？ (Nani shen no, maji de?) – nah-nee shen noh mah-jee deh

This phrase adds マジで？ (maji de?), meaning “Seriously?” for a surprised or shocked tone.

It’s a very casual, expressive phrase often used among younger people.

Example: “何してんの、マジで？” means “What are you doing, seriously?”

It adds a playful or incredulous vibe.

Great for sounding trendy and in-the-know.

Use it in casual chats to express surprise or disbelief naturally.

Concluding Thought

Exploring these 24 phrases shows just how rich and varied Japanese can be when asking a simple question like “What are you doing?”

From super polite forms to casual slang, each expression fits different moods and social settings, helping you sound more natural and connected.

Keep practicing these phrases, and soon you’ll be effortlessly blending into conversations and making new friends with your Japanese skills!