Is 搞 appropriate for formal names?

Generally not recommended for formal names due to its colloquial and informal nature. It works better in casual or modern creative names.

What are the main meanings of 搞?

The character has multiple meanings including to do, to make, to get, to handle, to fix, or to mess with. The exact meaning depends on context.

How is 搞 different from 做?

While both mean 'to do', 搞 is more colloquial and versatile, often implying a process or effort, whereas 做 is more standard and formal.

搞Tone 3

gǎo ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

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搞 · gǎo

To do;

to make;

to get;

to engage in;

to carry out;

to cause;

to mess with;

to fix;

to handle;

a colloquial verb for various actions.

To doto maketo get

Usage highlights

To do workTo engage in activitiesTo make a jokeTo cause troubleTo handle affairsTo fix something

Synonyms

做— to do, to make
弄— to handle, to fix
干— to do, to work on

Antonyms

停— to stop
放— to let go, to release

Usage & contexts

Examples

He is fixing the computer (搞电脑).
Let's do some business (搞生意).
Don't mess with him (别搞他).
I need to get some money (搞点钱).
She is engaged in research (搞研究).

Collocations

To do work(搞工作)
To engage in activities(搞活动)
To make a joke(搞笑)
To cause trouble(搞乱)
To handle affairs(搞事情)
To fix something(搞修理)

Idioms

To make a joke or be funny(搞笑)
To cause trouble or mess things up(搞砸)
To engage in improper relations(搞关系)
To be confused or unclear(搞不清楚)
To handle properly(搞好)

Cultural background

FAQ

Originally a dialect word from southern China that entered mainstream Mandarin in the 20th century.
Often used in informal contexts and considered colloquial rather than formal language.
Has a flexible meaning that depends heavily on context, similar to 'do' or 'get' in English.
Frequently appears in modern business and political contexts to mean 'handle' or 'manage'.

搞 (gǎo) - To do & to make