Was machen Sie?
What are you doing?
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A polite way to ask someone about their current activity or their profession in German.
- Means: 'What are you doing?' or 'What do you do for a living?'
- Used in: Professional settings, with strangers, or with older people.
- Don't confuse: Never use this with close friends; use 'Was machst du?' instead.
Explanation at your level:
معنی
Asking about someone's current activity.
زمینه فرهنگی
The 'Sie' form is used to maintain 'Distanz'. It is not unfriendly; it is a sign of respect for the other person's private sphere. Austrians may use titles (like 'Herr Doktor') along with 'Was machen Sie?' even more frequently than Germans to show extra respect. In Swiss German, the formal address is also standard in shops and with strangers, though the dialect version sounds like 'Was mached Sie?'
The 'Beruflich' Trick
If you want to ask about someone's job, always add 'beruflich' to avoid confusion with what they are doing right now.
Capitalization Matters
Always capitalize 'Sie' in writing. If you write 'sie', it means 'they' or 'she'.
معنی
Asking about someone's current activity.
The 'Beruflich' Trick
If you want to ask about someone's job, always add 'beruflich' to avoid confusion with what they are doing right now.
Capitalization Matters
Always capitalize 'Sie' in writing. If you write 'sie', it means 'they' or 'she'.
Wait for the Invitation
Don't switch to 'du' until the older or more senior person offers it.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the formal question.
Was ______ Sie heute im Büro?
The formal pronoun 'Sie' always requires the verb ending '-en'.
Which phrase is appropriate for your boss?
You see your boss in the hallway. You ask:
In a professional setting with a superior, the formal 'Sie' is mandatory.
Match the question to the context.
1. Was machen Sie? | 2. Was machst du?
Doctors are addressed formally; children are addressed informally.
Fill in the missing word.
A: Was machen Sie ______? B: Ich bin Lehrer.
The answer 'Ich bin Lehrer' (I am a teacher) indicates the question was about their profession.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Formal vs. Informal
When to use 'Sie'
Professional
- • Boss
- • Colleagues
- • Clients
Public
- • Police
- • Doctors
- • Strangers
سوالات متداول
6 سوالYes, it is very common in social settings, though adding 'beruflich' makes it clearer.
'Machen' is for general activities and creating things. 'Tun' is more abstract or used in specific idioms.
It can be, depending on your tone. It might sound like 'What are you doing here (you shouldn't be here)?'.
Usually with 'Ich' + verb. E.g., 'Ich lese ein Buch' or 'Ich arbeite als Arzt'.
Yes, but the verb conjugation is different. 'Was macht sie?' (What is she doing?) vs 'Was machen Sie?' (What are you doing?).
Usually, the shopkeeper asks you: 'Was kann ich für Sie tun?'. You wouldn't typically ask the shopkeeper 'Was machen Sie?'.
عبارات مرتبط
Was machst du?
similarWhat are you doing? (Informal)
Was arbeiten Sie?
specialized formWhat do you work (at)?
Was tun Sie?
synonymWhat are you doing?
کجا استفاده کنیم
At the Office
Kollege: Guten Morgen! Was machen Sie heute?
Ich: Ich schreibe {den|m} Bericht.
Meeting a Neighbor
Nachbar: Hallo! Was machen Sie da im {der|m} Garten?
Ich: Ich pflanze {die|f} Blumen.
Job Interview
Chef: Was machen Sie zurzeit beruflich?
Bewerber: Ich arbeite als {der|m} Manager.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Sie' as 'Sir' or 'Senior'. You ask 'What are you making, Sir?' to remember the formal 'Sie'.
Visual Association
Imagine a man in a sharp suit ({der|m} Anzug) holding a clipboard, looking at you politely. He is the embodiment of 'Sie'.
Rhyme
Was machen Sie? Fragen Sie nie 'du' beim Genie!
Story
You enter a high-end {die|f} Galerie. You see a famous artist. You don't know him, so you bow slightly and ask, 'Was machen Sie?' as he paints.
Word Web
چالش
Next time you see a colleague, ask them 'Was machen Sie heute?' instead of just saying 'Hallo'.
In Other Languages
¿Qué hace usted?
Spanish often omits the pronoun, while German almost always includes 'Sie'.
Que faites-vous ?
French often uses inversion (faites-vous) in formal writing, whereas German word order is more fixed in questions.
何をされていますか？
Japanese often omits the subject entirely, relying on the verb form to show formality.
ماذا تفعل؟
Formality in Arabic is often shown through titles (like 'Ya Sayyidi') rather than a specific pronoun.
What are you doing?
English uses the continuous '-ing' form, which doesn't exist in German.
Easily Confused
Learners often mix up 'How are you?' with 'What are you doing?'.
Remember: 'Was' = What, 'Wie' = How.
The verbs 'machen' and 'möchten' sound similar to beginners.
'Möchten' has an 'ö' and means 'would like'.
سوالات متداول (6)
Yes, it is very common in social settings, though adding 'beruflich' makes it clearer.
'Machen' is for general activities and creating things. 'Tun' is more abstract or used in specific idioms.
It can be, depending on your tone. It might sound like 'What are you doing here (you shouldn't be here)?'.
Usually with 'Ich' + verb. E.g., 'Ich lese ein Buch' or 'Ich arbeite als Arzt'.
Yes, but the verb conjugation is different. 'Was macht sie?' (What is she doing?) vs 'Was machen Sie?' (What are you doing?).
Usually, the shopkeeper asks you: 'Was kann ich für Sie tun?'. You wouldn't typically ask the shopkeeper 'Was machen Sie?'.
