Explanation of "工作还顺利吗？" in Chinese:

"工作还顺利吗？" is a thoughtful question used to ask about someone’s work progress or situation, equivalent to "Is work going smoothly?" or "How’s work going?" in English. Let’s break it down:

工作 (Gōng zuò)

Noun meaning "work" or "job," referring to professional duties or tasks.

还 (Hái)

Adverb meaning "still" or "also," here used to soften the question and imply concern about the ongoing status. It can also convey a sense of "how is it going so far?"

顺利 (Shùn lì)

Adjective meaning "smooth" or "going well," describing a lack of obstacles or difficulties.

吗 (Ma)

Question particle at the end of a sentence, turning it into a yes/no question (equivalent to "…吗？" in Chinese).

Tone and usage:

- **Friendly and concerned**, suitable for colleagues, friends, or acquaintances. It shows care about the other person’s work experience. - Common responses include: - Positive: 还不错，最近项目进展很顺利。 ("Not bad, the project is going smoothly recently.") - Neutral: 还行，就是有点忙。 ("It’s okay, just a bit busy.") - Negative: 不太顺利，遇到了一些麻烦。 ("Not so smooth, ran into some troubles.") - In more formal contexts, you can add 请问 (qǐng wèn, may I ask) or use 您 (nín) for politeness: 请问，您的工作还顺利吗？ ("May I ask, is your work going smoothly?")

Cultural context:

In Chinese workplace culture, this question is often used as a polite follow-up to inquiries about someone’s job. It reflects social concern and can lead to deeper conversations about work challenges or achievements.