Job

Hi,
If I want to ask someone what they do for a living, can I say:
1. What are you? Not a good choice of words..

2. What do you do (for a living)? The most common words

3. What is your job? Yes

4. What is your occupation? Yes

Clive

CliveHi,If I want to ask someone what they do for a living, can I say:1. What are you? Not a good choice of words..

Hi Clive,
Do you mean 'what are you?' is not correct or it's correct but not good?

Thank you for your answer.

Hi,
Do you mean 'what are you?' is not correct or it's correct but not good?

What do you mean by 'correct'?

Hi Clive,
Do you mean 'what are you/what is he' isn't a correct way to ask about someone's occupation?
Could you please tell me what 'what are you' or 'what is he/she' mean?

Thank you very much.

Hi,
I didn't say it wsn't correct. I said Not a good choice of words.

It's not what is commonly said.
In addition, the words by themselves seem a little general.

Let's assume you approach me at a party , and say 'H

If someone asked me "what are you," I would be tempted to reply, "I am a human being -- can't you tell?" It sounds rude (to me at least) because using "what" instead of "who" for a person makes it sound as if the person is an object. Of course if you say, "Who are you," the person will probably give his name. So the more polite way to ask about an occupation is "What is your job/occupation?"

Hi Clive and Khoff,
Thank you very much for your helpful replies.