作 zuò — to regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do; to make
这幅画是他的作品。Zhè fú huà shì tā de zuò pǐn.This painting is his work.
Common words: 工作 (gōng zuò)、动作 (dòng zuò)、作用 (zuò yòng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to make"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to make", including 作 (zuò), 使 (shǐ), 制 (zhì), 做 (zuò), 造 (zào), 搞 (gǎo). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to make" covers 7 different Chinese characters — 作 (zuò), 使 (shǐ), 制 (zhì), 做 (zuò), 造 (zào), 搞 (gǎo), 挣 (zhēng / zhèng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 7 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zuò, shǐ, zhì, zào, gǎo, zhēng, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 作 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 作 zuòto regard as; to take (somebody) for; to do; to makeUseful words: 工作, 动作
- 使 shǐto make; to cause; to enable; to use; to employ; messengerUseful words: 使用, 大使馆
- 制 zhìsystem; to make; to manufacture; to control; to regulate; manufactureUseful words: 制造, 制作
- 做 zuòto do; to make; to produceUseful words: 做饭, 做到
- 造 zàoto make; to build; to invent; to manufactureUseful words: 造成, 创造
Common words for these 7 "to make" characters
Anchor each of these 7 characters in a word you can picture — start with 作 (zuò) — so "to make" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
工作gōng zuòto work; (of a machine) to operate; job; work动作dòng zuòmovement; motion; action; to act作用zuò yòngto act on; to affect; action; function使用shǐ yòngto use; to employ; to apply; to make use of大使馆dà shǐ guǎnembassy即使jí shǐeven if; even though制造zhì zàoto manufacture; to make制作zhì zuòto make; to manufacture制度zhì dùsystem (e.g. political, adminstrative etc); institution做饭zuò fànto prepare a meal; to cook
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 7 ways to say "to make".
使 shǐ — to make; to cause; to enable; to use; to employ; messenger
音乐使人放松。Yīn yuè shǐ rén fàng sōng.Music makes people relax.
Common words: 使用 (shǐ yòng)、大使馆 (dà shǐ guǎn)、即使 (jí shǐ)
制 zhì — system; to make; to manufacture; to control; to regulate; manufacture
这张桌子是木头制成的。Zhè zhāng zhuō zi shì mù tou zhì chéng de.This table is made of wood.
Common words: 制造 (zhì zào)、制作 (zhì zuò)、制度 (zhì dù)
做 zuò — to do; to make; to produce
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.
Common words: 做饭 (zuò fàn)、做到 (zuò dào)、做法 (zuò fǎ)
造 zào — to make; to build; to invent; to manufacture
小朋友用积木造了一座城堡。Xiǎo péng you yòng jī mù zào le yí zuò chéng bǎo.The child built a castle out of blocks.
Common words: 造成 (zào chéng)、创造 (chuàng zào)、制造 (zhì zào)
搞 gǎo — to do; to make; to go in for; to set up; to get hold of; to take care of
这次活动是大家一起搞起来的。Zhè cì huó dòng shì dà jiā yì qǐ gǎo qǐ lái de.This event was organized by everyone together.
Common words: 搞好 (gǎo hǎo)、搞鬼 (gǎo guǐ)、搞笑 (gǎo xiào)
挣 zhēng / zhèng — struggle; to earn; to make (money)
他靠自己的双手挣钱养家。Tā kào zì jǐ de shuāng shǒu zhèng qián yǎng jiā.He earns money to support his family with his own hands.
Common words: 挣钱 (zhèng qián)、挣扎 (zhēng zhá)、挣得 (zhèng dé)
All 7 characters
Open 作、使、制 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.