Difference between revisions of "Comparing the two "zuo""
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做 and 作 both are verbs that can be easily confused because both mean “to do” and are pronounced “ zuò” (fourth tone). While these both mean “to do”, the use of these two words is very different and almost always not interchangeable. 做 is used very commonly in both in informal/formal situations, whereas 作 is used only in formal situations.  
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做 (zuò) and 作 (zuò) are both verbs that can be easily confused because both mean “to do” and are pronounced identically. While these both mean “to do,” the use of these two words is different and rarely interchangeable. 做 is used very commonly in both in both informal and formal contexts, whereas 作 is used only in specific formal situations.  
  
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{{SimilarWordsCol1|做|zuò|to do (work with your hands, cooking, make friends)|verb|flexible}}
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{{SimilarWordsCol1|做|zuò|to do (work with your hands), to make (food, friends)|verb|flexible}}
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{{SimilarWordsCol2|作|zuò|to do (thought out or abstract undertakings)|verb|formal}}
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{{SimilarWordsCol2|作|zuò|to do (mental or abstract undertakings)|verb|formal}}
 
{{SimilarWordsPageInfo|B1|HSK4|ASV4567}}
 
{{SimilarWordsPageInfo|B1|HSK4|ASV4567}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
  
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== To say to say do work with your hands like making clothes or making food use 做. ==
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== Use 做 "to do" work with your hands or "to make" things ==
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
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<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
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* 做事
 +
* 做家务
 
* 做衣服
 
* 做衣服
 
* 做饭
 
* 做饭
−
* 做工
+
* 做面
 +
* 做菜
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== To say make friends use 做. ==
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=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
</div>
  
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=== Common Phrases ===
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== Use 做 to say "make friends" ==
  
−
<div class="liju dapei">
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做朋友 is one of the few common abstract uses of 做, where there's nothing physical actually being made.
  
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* 做朋友
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<div class="liju">
 +
* 例句
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* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== Sometimes to say “to be” also uses 做. ==
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== Use 做 for “to be” certain roles ==
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
−
 
+
* 做妈妈
 +
* 做爸爸
 
* 做父亲
 
* 做父亲
−
* 做母亲
+
* 做老师
 
* 做演员
 
* 做演员
 
* 做客
 
* 做客
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== To say to do a thought out or abstract undertakings use 作. ==
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=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
</div>
 +
 
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== Use 作 "to do" a thought-out or abstract undertaking ==
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
  
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In the following examples only 作 can be used.
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In the following examples only 作 can be used. You'll notice that these are not super-common phrases.
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
−
 
 
* 作报告
 
* 作报告
 
* 作奋斗
 
* 作奋斗
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</div>
 +
 +
=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
* 例句
 +
</div>
 +
 +
=== Notable Exceptions ===
 +
 +
Note that the following phrases may seem abstract, but ''do not'' use 作; they can only use 做:
 +
 +
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* 做作业
 +
* 做生意
 +
</div>
 +
 +
=== 作 is also used in some common nouns ===
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 +
作 is also commonly used as part of some words, but it's not a verb in these cases:
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 +
<div class="liju dapei">
 
* 作者
 
* 作者
 
* 作文
 
* 作文

Revision as of 09:46, 27 April 2022

做 (zuò) and 作 (zuò) are both verbs that can be easily confused because both mean “to do” and are pronounced identically. While these both mean “to do,” the use of these two words is different and rarely interchangeable. 做 is used very commonly in both in both informal and formal contexts, whereas 作 is used only in specific formal situations.











B1HSK4ASV4567
做 (zuò) 作 (zuò)
Meaning to do (work), to make (food, friends) (mostly for parts of other words)
Part of Speech verb verb
Formality flexible formal

Use 做 "to do" work with your hands or "to make" things

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 做 can be used.

  • 做事
  • 做家务
  • 做衣服
  • 做饭
  • 做面
  • 做菜

Example Sentences

  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句

Use 做 to say "make friends"

做朋友 is one of the few common abstract uses of 做, where there's nothing physical actually being made.

  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句

Use 做 for “to be” certain roles

Common Phrases

  • 做妈妈
  • 做爸爸
  • 做父亲
  • 做老师
  • 做演员
  • 做客

Example Sentences

  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句

Use 作 "to do" a thought-out or abstract undertaking

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 作 can be used. You'll notice that these are not super-common phrases.

  • 作报告
  • 作奋斗

Example Sentences

  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句
  • 例句

Notable Exceptions

Note that the following phrases may seem abstract, but do not use 作; they can only use 做:

  • 做作业
  • 做生意

作 is also used in some common nouns

作 is also commonly used as part of some words, but it's not a verb in these cases:

  • 作者
  • 作文

Sources and further reading

Websites

“做”和“作”的区别？ https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/16095504.html

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