Signification
To be busy.
Contexte culturel
Poles often use 'mieć co robić' as a humblebrag. Being busy is seen as a sign of being successful or needed. In a Polish office, saying 'nie mam co robić' to a boss is dangerous—they will immediately give you more work! Using this phrase is a polite way to end a phone call that is going on too long. In the countryside, this phrase is often literal, referring to the endless cycle of farming and maintenance.
Use it as an excuse
It's the most polite way to say 'no' to an invitation without giving too many details.
Don't forget the 'co'
Saying 'Mam robić' is incomplete and sounds like you're waiting for an instruction.
Signification
To be busy.
Use it as an excuse
It's the most polite way to say 'no' to an invitation without giving too many details.
Don't forget the 'co'
Saying 'Mam robić' is incomplete and sounds like you're waiting for an instruction.
Add 'naprawdę'
Adding 'naprawdę' (really) before 'mam' makes you sound like a native who is genuinely overwhelmed.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'mieć'.
Wczoraj (ja) ______ co robić w biurze.
'Wczoraj' indicates the past tense, and 'ja' (masculine) requires 'miałem'.
Which sentence means 'I am bored'?
Wybierz poprawne zdanie:
The negative form 'nie mam co robić' is the idiomatic way to say you have nothing to do/are bored.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Idziemy na kawę? B: Nie mogę, ______ co robić.
The phrase is 'mieć co robić', so 'mam' is the correct verb.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are at home and there are many chores to do.
If there are chores, you have things to do.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Busy vs. Bored
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesWczoraj (ja) ______ co robić w biurze.
'Wczoraj' indicates the past tense, and 'ja' (masculine) requires 'miałem'.
Wybierz poprawne zdanie:
The negative form 'nie mam co robić' is the idiomatic way to say you have nothing to do/are bored.
A: Idziemy na kawę? B: Nie mogę, ______ co robić.
The phrase is 'mieć co robić', so 'mam' is the correct verb.
Situation: You are at home and there are many chores to do.
If there are chores, you have things to do.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
It's better to say 'Mam dużo roboty' or 'Mam naprawdę dużo co robić'.
'Być zajętym' is 'to be busy' (adjective), while 'mieć co robić' is 'to have things to do' (verb phrase). The latter sounds more active.
Use the past tense: 'Miałem/Miałam co robić'.
It might sound a bit rude, as if you are bored. Better to say 'Czy mogę w czymś pomóc?' (Can I help with something?).
No, 'co' stays in the nominative/accusative form here.
Yes! You can say 'Mam co czytać' (I have things to read) or 'Mam co jeść' (I have things to eat).
Yes, it is very common in both literature and daily speech.
It means someone has a lot of problems to solve. 'No, teraz to masz co robić!'
Yes: 'W przyszłym tygodniu będę miał co robić'.
Expressions liées
mieć dużo roboty
similarTo have a lot of work.
nie mieć co robić
contrastTo have nothing to do.
mieć ręce pełne roboty
specialized formTo have one's hands full.
mieć zajęcie
synonymTo have an occupation/task.
