Meaning
Focusing on one's own tasks.
Cultural Background
In Turkish offices, 'işine bakmak' is often a sign of a 'star employee' who avoids office politics. However, being *too* focused on your own work can sometimes be seen as not being a 'team player' in more traditional settings. In traditional neighborhoods, 'işine bakmak' is a way to resist the 'mahalle baskısı' (neighborhood pressure) where neighbors feel entitled to comment on your lifestyle. Characters often use 'İşine bak!' as a dramatic exit line during a confrontation. It signals that the conversation is over and the other person's opinion is worthless. Among shopkeepers, 'işine bakmak' means keeping your shop clean and your customers happy, rather than worrying about the competitor across the street.
Tone Matters
Saying it with a smile makes it advice; saying it with a frown makes it an insult.
Use 'Kendi'
Add 'kendi' (own) to make your boundary setting much stronger: 'Kendi işine bak!'
Meaning
Focusing on one's own tasks.
Tone Matters
Saying it with a smile makes it advice; saying it with a frown makes it an insult.
Use 'Kendi'
Add 'kendi' (own) to make your boundary setting much stronger: 'Kendi işine bak!'
The 'Esnaf' Way
If you are in a shop and the owner is busy, you can say 'Siz işinize bakın' to mean 'Don't mind me, keep working.'
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'işine bakmak'.
Başkalarının ne dediğini boşver, sen sadece ______.
The phrase requires the dative case (-e) and the imperative form for the second person singular.
Which situation is most appropriate for saying 'İşimize bakalım'?
A colleague is gossiping about the boss, and you want to get back to work.
'İşimize bakalım' is used to redirect focus from distractions like gossip to the task at hand.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Sence bu elbise bana yakıştı mı?' Mehmet: 'Ben anlamam, sen ______.'
Mehmet is dismissive, telling Ayşe to focus on her own choice/business.
Match the phrase to the tone.
1. Kendi işine bak! 2. Biz işimize bakalım.
'Kendi' adds emphasis which often sounds ruder, while 'biz' (we) sounds like a shared goal.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesBaşkalarının ne dediğini boşver, sen sadece ______.
The phrase requires the dative case (-e) and the imperative form for the second person singular.
A colleague is gossiping about the boss, and you want to get back to work.
'İşimize bakalım' is used to redirect focus from distractions like gossip to the task at hand.
Ayşe: 'Sence bu elbise bana yakıştı mı?' Mehmet: 'Ben anlamam, sen ______.'
Mehmet is dismissive, telling Ayşe to focus on her own choice/business.
1. Kendi işine bak! 2. Biz işimize bakalım.
'Kendi' adds emphasis which often sounds ruder, while 'biz' (we) sounds like a shared goal.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo. If said to a friend who is distracted, it's helpful. If said to someone asking a question, it's usually rude.
Only in very informal emails. In formal ones, use 'Konuya odaklanalım' (Let's focus on the subject).
İşinize bakın (to multiple people or formal singular).
No, that is 'İş aramak'.
You can say 'Bu konuyla ben ilgileniyorum, teşekkürler' (I am handling this matter, thanks).
Yes, 'Yoluna bak' or 'İşine ikile' (Get going to your work).
Yes: 'Bugün sadece işime bakacağım' (Today I will only focus on my work).
It always takes the Dative case (-e/-a).
Yes, especially in pop and rap songs about independence and ignoring haters.
'Kendi' makes it more specific and often more emphatic/stern.
Related Phrases
İşini bilmek
similarTo know one's business/to be clever
Burnunu sokmak
contrastTo poke one's nose into something
Haddini bilmek
similarTo know one's place
Yoluna bakmak
similarTo mind one's way/go on
İş başa düşmek
builds onTo have to do it oneself
