"no sé que hago" Vs "no sé que hacer"

Question

Is there a difference between "no sé que hago" and "no sé que hacer"?

There are examples of both on the web.

Answer 1

Hi there! The way I understand these two:

No sé qué hago - I don't know what I'm doing (the 'doing' is ongoing - I don't know what I'm doing here, I don't know what I'm doing wrong, etc.)

No sé qué hacer - I don't know what to do (the 'doing' is in the future, yet to happen)

Thanks! - just4karns, Aug 26, 2015

Answer 2

No sé que hago. I don't know what I'm doing. It is used when you are distracted and you are doing something wrong. Example: What are you doing!, do not put the milk in the oven, place it in the refrigerator . Sorry i don't know what I'm doing. ¡Que estas haciendo!. No pongas la leche en el horno, metela en el frigorífico. Perdona NO SÉ QUE HAGO.

No sé que hacer. I don't know what to do It is used when you are in doubt. You don't know what to do or how resolve something. Example: I would like go to the cinema, but i also want to go to the opera . I don't know what to do. Me gustaría ir al cine pero también quiero ir a la ópera. No se que hacer

Good explanation - just4karns, Aug 26, 2015