Thread: "Чем Вы занимаетесь?"

Is this right?

Originally Posted by Some website about Russian

Чем Вы занимаетесь? = What do you do for a living?

If so, how can that be, since:

Originally Posted by Mail.ru dictionary

занимать, занять
I (вн.; брать взаймы)
borrow (d.)
II занять (вн.)
1. (в разн. знач.) occupy (d.), take* up (d.)

[s:2bz3q1p3]I had a long day at work and this makes no sense!!! [/s:2bz3q1p3]

PS. also found: Ты чем занимаешься? using the reflective verb....

Originally Posted by Hanna

If so, how can that be...

It's important to distinguish a reflexive verb заниматься from a verb занимать.
Чем вы занимаетесь? = What are you doing? (at this very moment, curiosity is implied ).
Чем вы занимаетесь (в жизни)? = What do you do for a living? (like you said).
Она хочет заниматься (заняться) танцами. - She wants to take up dancing.
Они занимаются спортом - They go in for sports.

Это занимает много времени - It takes much time.
Ты занимаешь у него 1000 рублей - You borrow 1000 roubles from him.
Диван занимает много места. - The sofa occupies a lot of room.
Спортсмен занял первое место - The sportsman took first place.

Thanks!
Examples are always good for understanding, I think...
I will review them carefully.
Maybe I am just tired... Everything I tried to learn this evening seemed hard and confusing...

Originally Posted by Hanna

Everything I tried to learn this evening seemed hard and confusing...

sounds like Russian!

Word-by-word translation:
Чем_Вы_занимаете_сь?
With what_you_occupy_yourself?

Oops... It makes sense now... I must have been very tired indeed.
Thanks everyone!!