做 (zuò) - to do & to make

做Tone 4

zuò ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

志

做 · zuò

to do;

to make;

to act;

to work;

to serve as;

to become;

to be engaged in;

to produce;

to cook;

to prepare.

to doto maketo act

Usage highlights

to do workto do businessto cook a mealto do homeworkto serve asto make friends

Synonyms

  • 作— to do; to make (more formal/literary)
  • 干— to do; to work (more colloquial)
  • 办— to handle; to manage
  • 搞— to do; to make (colloquial, versatile)

Antonyms

  • 停— to stop
  • 休— to rest
  • 弃— to abandon

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I need to do homework (做作业).
  • She makes delicious food (做饭).
  • He works as a teacher (做老师).
  • We are doing business (做生意).
  • They are preparing for the exam (做准备).

Collocations

  • to do work(做工作)
  • to do business(做生意)
  • to cook a meal(做饭)
  • to do homework(做作业)
  • to serve as(做...)
  • to make friends(做朋友)

Idioms

  • To do good deeds and accumulate virtue(做好事积德)
  • To do things according to one's ability(量力而做)
  • To do things honestly and conscientiously(老老实实地做)
  • To do things in a slipshod way(马马虎虎地做)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 做 is one of the most fundamental verbs in Chinese, covering a wide range of actions from physical making to abstract doing.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of 'doing' (做) is often associated with diligence, practicality, and fulfilling one's duties.
  • The character reflects the importance of action and productivity in Chinese societal values.

FAQ