Hindi · People & Family

"What do you do? (for work)" in Hindi: आप क्या काम करते हैं?

आप क्या काम करते हैं?aap kya kaam karte hain?

Say it: aap kya KAAM kar-te hainphrase/ɑːp kjɑː kɑːm kərt̪eː ɦɛ̃ː/

What do you do is आप क्या काम करते हैं? (aap kya kaam karte hain?). Keep क्या काम with करते हैं for someone's work.

Networking event

परिचय के लिए, आप क्या काम करते हैं?

parichay ke liye, aap kya kaam karte hain?

For introductions — what do you do?
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How to pronounce आप क्या काम करते हैं?

Say it

aap kya KAAM kar-te hain

/ɑːp kjɑː kɑːm kərt̪eː ɦɛ̃ː/

Aap kya kaam kar-te hain. Soft dental t; clear nasal n in hain.

"What do you do? (for work)" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
आप क्या काम करते हैं?aap kya kaam karte hain?what do you do?

Default polite.

आप क्या करते हैं?aap kya karte hain?what do you do?

Shorter.

आपका क्या काम है?aapka kya kaam hai?what is your work?

Alternate.

तुम क्या काम करते हो?tum kya kaam karte ho?what do you do? (tum)

Friends.

How to use आप क्या काम करते हैं? in real life

  1. 1Networking event

    परिचय के लिए, आप क्या काम करते हैं?

    parichay ke liye, aap kya kaam karte hain?

    For introductions — what do you do?

    Full aap phrase.

  2. 2Train neighbor

    अगर बुरा मानें, आप क्या काम करते हैं?

    agar bura na maanen, aap kya kaam karte hain?

    If you don't mind — what do you do?

    Soft opener.

  3. 3Family friend

    बताइए, आप क्या काम करते हैं आजकल?

    bataaiye, aap kya kaam karte hain aajkal?

    Tell me — what do you do these days?

    Catch-up.

Mistakes English speakers make with आप क्या काम करते हैं?

Incorrect: Using तुम forms with a stranger elder

Correct: आप क्या काम करते हैं?

Keep aap करते हैं with people you just met.

Incorrect: Asking क्या हो तुम for a job

Correct: आप क्या काम करते हैं?

This page teaches the job ask with क्या काम.

Good to know

Job small talk is common after names. Answers may be मैं शिक्षक हूँ or कंपनी में काम करता हूँ. Stick to आप क्या काम करते हैं? until someone offers tum.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Meeting at a wedding

  1. ChatPal

    आप क्या काम करते हैं?

    aap kya kaam karte hain?

    What do you do?

  2. You

    मैं डिज़ाइनर हूँआप क्या काम करते हैं?

    main designer hoon — aap kya kaam karte hain?

    I'm a designer — what do you do?

  3. ChatPal

    मैं स्कूल में पढ़ाता हूँ

    main school men padhaata hoon.

    I teach at a school.

  4. You

    अच्छा लगा पूछकर आप क्या काम करते हैं

    achha laga poochhkar aap kya kaam karte hain.

    Nice asking what you do.

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"What do you do? (for work)" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "What do you do? (for work)" in Hindi

How do you ask what someone does?

आप क्या काम करते हैं?

Is there a shorter form?

आप क्या करते हैं? works too.

What about friends?

तुम क्या काम करते हो?

Must I keep काम?

Yes for this headword: आप क्या काम करते हैं?

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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