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QUICK ANSWER
"En qué trabaja" is a form of "en qué trabaja", a phrase which is often translated as "what he does for a living". "De" is a form of "de", a preposition which is often translated as "from". Learn more about the difference between "en qué trabaja" and "de" below.
en qué trabaja(
ehn
keh
trah
-
bah
-
hah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. what he does for a living
No sé en qué trabaja, pero creo que estudió derecho.I don't know what he does for a living, but I think he studied law.
b. what she does for a living
Isabel tiene una casa preciosa. Me pregunto en qué trabaja.Isabel has such a beautiful house. I wonder what she does for a living.
2. (formal) (in statements; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. what you do for a living
Tiene que rellenar uno u otro formulario dependiendo de en qué trabaja.You have to fill in one form or the other depending on what you do for a living.
a. what does he do for a living
¿En qué trabaja desde que se fue a Nueva York?What does he do for a living since he moved to New York?
b. what does she do for a living
¿En qué trabaja ahora que ya acabó la carrera?What does she do for a living now that she's already finished her degree?
4. (formal) (in questions; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
a. what do you do for a living
Si usted estudió criminología, ¿en qué trabaja? ¿Es policía?If you studied criminology, what do you do for a living? Are you a policewoman?
de(
deh
)A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Te recojo en el coche de mi padre.I'll come get you in my father's car.
¿Esa no es la casa de Susana?Isn't that Susana's house?
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Voy a comprar otro traje de baño para el verano.I'm going to buy another bathing suit for the summer.
Se usa la palanca de cambios para cambiar las marchas.You use the gear shift to change the gears.
a. with
Me sorprendí llorando de pena al pensar en él.I caught myself crying with sorrow when I thought of him.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
