Comparing the two "zuo"

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.

	做 (zuò)	作 (zuò)
Meaning	to do (work with your hands, cooking, make friends)	to do (thought out or abstract undertakings)
Part of Speech	verb	verb
Formality	flexible	formal

To say to say do work with your hands like making clothes or making food use 做.

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 做 can be used.

• 做衣服
• 做饭
• 做工

To say make friends use 做.

Common Phrases

• 做朋友

Sometimes to say “to be” also uses 做.

Common Phrases

• 做父亲
• 做母亲
• 做演员
• 做客

To say to do a thought out or abstract undertakings use 作.

Common Phrases

In the following examples only 作 can be used.

• 作报告
• 作奋斗
• 作者
• 作文