Meaning
to do; to make; to produce
Chinese: 从事、制作或完成某事。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “zuo” becomes a different word in each tone. 做 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 做饭zuò fànto prepare a meal; to cook
- 做到zuò dàoto accomplish; to achieve
- 做法zuò fǎway of handling sth; method for making; work method; recipe
- 做客zuò kèto be a guest or visitor
- 做梦zuò mèngto dream; to have a dream; (fig.) to indulge in wishful thinking
Example Sentence
周末我喜欢自己做点心。Zhōu mò wǒ xǐ huan zì jǐ zuò diǎn xin.On weekends I like to make snacks myself.
周末Zhōu mòweekend我wǒI喜欢xǐ huanto like自己zì jǐoneself做zuòto make点心diǎn xinlight refreshments。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The person radical 亻 plus 故: a later, more concrete writing of 作 ‘to do’. It means ‘to do, make; to act as, be; to write, produce; to hold (an event)’ (做事, 做饭, 做人).
A way to remember it
The hands-on ‘to do/make’: 做饭 (cook), 做事 (do things).
Easy to confuse with
- 作‘To do / a work’: the older, more abstract 亻+乍, used in compounds (工作, 作业).