Difference between revisions of "Comparing the two "zuo""

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== Use 作 "to do" a thought-out or abstract undertaking ==
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== Use 作 only as parts of other words ==
  
宾语是双音节动词,以前的时候用“作”,但是现在也可以用“做”。
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=== 作 as a standalone word used to be more common ===
  
 +
It's true that 作 was once more commonly used instead of 做. You might see stuff like this:
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 +
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* 作报告
 
* 作报告
 
* 作测试
 
* 作测试
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* 作回应
 
* 作回应
 
* 作演讲
 
* 作演讲
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=== Common Phrases ===
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But nowadays 做 is preferred for all of these uses. You might see 作, but you don't need to use it yourself.
  
In the following examples only 作 can be used. You'll notice that these are not super-common phrases.
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=== 作 is most commonly seen as part of other words ===
 +
 
 +
In the following examples only 作 can be used, but it's not a standalone word here, it's simply a building block (called a morpheme in linguistics).
  
“作”偏正式,
 
从语义内容来看:“作”表示的动作性不强,意义比较抽象、泛化;“做”表示的动作性强,意义比较具体、实在。
 
“作”和别的词放在一起,看起来更像一个词,不是词组
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
* 看作
+
* 工作
* 作出
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* 作业
 +
* 作文
 +
* 作者
 
* 作弊
 
* 作弊
 
* 作案
 
* 作案
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=== Example Sentences ===
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 我把你看作我最好的朋友。
 
* 你怎么能作出这样的决定?
 
* 考试的时候不能作弊。
 
* 这个小偷作了很多案,现在被抓住了。
 
 
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Revision as of 06:37, 6 May 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 both in 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 or "to make" things

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 做 can be used.

  • 做 饭
  • 做 生意
  • 做 运动
  • 做 工作

Example Sentences

  • 我不常点外卖,经常自己做饭。
  • 今天的作业我做完了。
  • 做运动让人心情很愉快。
  • 我今天做了一天工作。
  • 你平常喜欢做什么?

Use 做 for “to be” certain roles

Common Phrases

  • 做妈妈
  • 做老师
  • 做律师
  • 做朋友

Example Sentences

  • 她有了自己的孩子,她做妈妈了。
  • 你是做什么的?
  • 我的朋友是做律师的。
  • 他做了十年老师了。

Use 作 only as parts of other words

作 as a standalone word used to be more common

It's true that 作 was once more commonly used instead of 做. You might see stuff like this:

  • 作报告
  • 作测试
  • 作比较
  • 作回应
  • 作演讲

But nowadays 做 is preferred for all of these uses. You might see 作, but you don't need to use it yourself.

作 is most commonly seen as part of other words

In the following examples only 作 can be used, but it's not a standalone word here, it's simply a building block (called a morpheme in linguistics).

  • 工作
  • 作业
  • 作文
  • 作者
  • 作弊
  • 作案

Sources and further reading

Websites