Answering "What do you do?" in English
How to answer when someone asks what you do for work.
Full script
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
Simple job answer
What do you do? = asks about work; What are you doing? = asks right now
Plain-English science
Use I study how… to explain simply; work on = study or build
Daily work tasks
run experiments = do lab tests; …and drink lots of coffee. = sounds real
Weekend hobby
What do you do for fun? = ask about hobbies; No way, me too! = surprised same hobby
Quick answers
Not 'what are you doing': what to say in English
Say “I do research in a lab.” — simple job answer. What do you do? = asks about work; What are you doing? = asks right now.
Skip heavy jargon: what to say in English
Say “I study how cells talk to each other.” — plain-English science. Use I study how… to explain simply; work on = study or build.
Add light humor: what to say in English
Say “I run experiments and read papers.” — daily work tasks. run experiments = do lab tests; …and drink lots of coffee. = sounds real.
Find common ground: what to say in English
Say “I play ping-pong on weekends.” — weekend hobby. What do you do for fun? = ask about hobbies; No way, me too! = surprised same hobby.