Difference between revisions of "Comparing "gan" and "zuo""

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干 and 做 both are verbs that mean “to do” as in “to do work” or “to do a job. 做 can be used in formal/informal settings, whereas 干 is used more often in informal speech and writing. A key difference between these words is 做 also can mean “to do” in the sense of “to make”, whereas 干 does not have this usage.
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(gàn) and 做 (zuò) are both verbs that mean "to do" as in "to do work" or "to have nothing to do." 做 can be used in both formal and informal settings, whereas 干 is used more often in informal speech and writing. A key difference between these words is that 做 also can mean "to make," whereas 干 does not have any similar usage.
  
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|干|gàn|to do|verb|informal}}
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|干|gàn|to do|verb|informal}}
 
{{SimilarWordsCol2|做|zuò|to do, to make|verb|flexible}}
 
{{SimilarWordsCol2|做|zuò|to do, to make|verb|flexible}}
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== To say “to do” in the sense of “to make” use 做 ==
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== 干 has some common informal set phrases ==
 +
 
 +
These phrases are common in informal speech and writing (such as on WeChat), so you should really know them.
 +
 
 +
=== Common Phrases ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* <em>干</em> 活 <span class="pinyin"><em> gàn </em> huó</span><span class="trans">to work</span>
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* <em>干</em> 吗 <span class="pinyin"><em> gàn </em> ma</span><span class="trans">to do what</span>
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</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 你 在 <em>干吗</em>?我 想 请 你 帮 我 一 个 忙。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em> gànmá </em>? wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.</span><span class="trans">What are you doing? I'd like to ask you to do me a favor.</span>
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* 我 <em>干</em> 过 很 多 <strong>活儿</strong>,但是 都 是 体力 活儿。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em> gàn </em> guo hěn duō <strong> huór </strong>, dànshì dōu shì tǐlì huór.</span><span class="trans">I've done a lot of work, but it's all manual labor.</span>
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* 自行车 被 偷 了,这 是 他 <em>干</em> 的,不 是 我 <em>干</em> 的。 <span class="pinyin">Zìxíngchē bèi tōu le, zhè shì tā <em> gàn </em> de, bù shì wǒ <em> gàn </em> de.</span><span class="trans">The bike was stolen. It was his doing, not mine.</span>
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* 我 是 一 个 快递员,每天 要 <em>干</em> 十二 个 小时 的 <strong>活儿</strong>,很 累。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì yī gè kuàidì yuán, měi tiān yào <em> gàn </em> shí'èr gè xiǎoshí de <strong> huór </strong>, hěn lèi.</span><span class="trans">I'm a courier and I work twelve hours a day. It's very tiring.</span>
 +
* 有时候 孩子 很 努力 帮 我们 <em>干活</em> , 我 会 奖励 他 一个 巧克力 。 <span class="pinyin">Yǒu shíhou háizi hěn nǔlì bāng wǒmen <em> gànhuó </em>, wǒ huì jiǎnglì tā yī gè qiǎokèlì.</span><span class="trans">Sometimes the kid works really hard to help us out. I reward him with a chocolate.</span>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== 做 meaning "to do" has some common set phrases ==
 +
 
 +
=== Common Phrases ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* <em>做</em> 作业 <span class="pinyin"><em>zuò</em> zuòyè</span><span class="trans">to do homework</span>
 +
* <em>做</em> 运动 <span class="pinyin"><em>zuò</em> yùndòng</span><span class="trans">to do exercises</span>
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* <em>做</em> 测试 <span class="pinyin"><em>zuò</em> cèshì</span><span class="trans">to take a test</span>
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* <em>做</em> 手术 <span class="pinyin"><em>zuò</em> shǒushù</span><span class="trans">to have surgery; to perform surgery</span>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 最近 我 每天 都 <em>做</em> <strong>运动</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Zuìjìn wǒ měi tiān dōu <em>zuò</em> <strong>yùndòng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I've been doing exercise every day lately.</span>
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* 我 没有 <em>做</em> <strong>作业</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ méiyǒu <em>zuò</em> <strong>zuòyè</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I haven't done the homework.</span>
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* 我 昨天 <em>做</em> 了 <strong>手术</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān <em>zuò</em> le <strong>shǒushù</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I had surgery yesterday.</span>
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* <em>做</em> <strong>瑜伽</strong> 可以 帮助 你 放松 心情 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Zuò</em> <strong>yújiā</strong> kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ fàngsōng xīnqíng.</span><span class="trans">Doing yoga helps you to relax your mind.</span>
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* 因为 有 疫情,所以 我 需要 <em>做</em> 核酸 <strong>测试</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Yīnwèi yǒu yìqíng, suǒyǐ wǒ xūyào <em> zuò </em> hésuān <strong> cèshì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Because of the pandemic I had to do a nucleic acid test.</span>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== and 干 are often interchangeable ==
 +
 
 +
Just keep in mind that 干 is only suitable for informal language. Don't replace a 做 with 干 in a formal setting!
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* 做 什么 / 干 什么 <span class="pinyin">zuò shénme/gàn shénme</span><span class="trans">to do what</span>
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</div>
  
* 做饭
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=== Example Sentences ===
* 做衣服
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* 做家具
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<div class="liju">
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* 这 是 你 <em>干</em> 的 吗 ? <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì nǐ <em> gàn </em> de ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you do this?</span>
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* 你 是 <em>做</em> <strong>什么</strong> 的? </span><span class="expl">asking about someone's job</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì <em> zuò </em> <strong>shénme</strong> de?<span class="trans">What do you do?</span>
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* 你 周末 准备 <em>干</em> <strong>什么</strong> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōumò zhǔnbèi <em> gàn </em> <strong>shénme?</strong></span><span class="trans">What are you going to do on the weekend?</span>
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* 我 相信 你们 , 但 这 件 <strong>事</strong> 不 能 这样 <em>做</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐmen, dàn zhè jiàn <strong>shì</strong> bù néng zhèyàng <em>zuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">I trust you, but we can't do it this way.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say “to do” in the sense of “to act” or “to take action” use ==
+
== 做 can mean "to make" ==
 +
 
 +
Only 做 can be used in this way, and not .
  
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
=== Common Phrases ===
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* 做 计划<span class="pinyin">zuò  jìhuà</span><span class="trans">to make plans</span>
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* 做 决定 <span class="pinyin">zuò juédìng</span><span class="trans">to make decisions</span>
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* 做爱 <span class="pinyin">zuò'ài</span><span class="trans">to make love</span>
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</div>
 +
 +
=== Example Sentences ===
  
* 干活儿
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<div class="liju">
*  
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* 这 件 事情 需要 你 自己 <em>做</em> <strong>决定</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shìqing xūyào nǐ zìjǐ <em> zuò </em> <strong> juédìng </strong>.</span><span class="trans">You need to make this decision on your own.</span>
*  
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* 每 次 去 旅游,我 都 会 <em>做</em> <strong>计划</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Měi cì qù lǚyóu, wǒ dōu huì <em> zuò </em> <strong> jìhuà </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Every time I go traveling, I make a plan.</span>
*  
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* 你们 只 是 朋友 吗?你们 有 没有 <em>做</em> 过 <strong>爱</strong>? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen zhǐ shì péngyou ma? Nǐmen yǒu méiyǒu <em>zuò</em> guo <strong>ài</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Are you just friends? Have you ever made love?</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
== 做 can mean "to be" ==
 +
 +
Only 做 can be used in this way, and not 干.
 +
 +
=== Common Phrases ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju dapei">
 +
* <em>做</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin"><em> zuò </em> péngyou</span><span class="trans">to be friends</span>
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* <em>做</em> 医生<span class="pinyin"><em> zuò </em> yīshēng</span><span class="trans">to be a doctor</span>
 +
</div>
 +
 +
=== Example Sentences ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 长大 以后,父母 希望 我 <em>做</em> 一 个 <strong>医生</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhǎngdà yǐhòu, fùmǔ xīwàng wǒ <em>zuò</em> yī gè <strong>yīshēng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My parents hope I become a doctor when I grow up.</span>
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* 我 不 想 和 你 <em>做</em> <strong>朋友</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xiǎng hé nǐ <em>zuò</em> <strong>péngyou</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to be friends with you.</span>
 +
</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
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 +
=== Websites ===
 +
 +
* [https://www.jianshu.com/p/a5aa779f0343 “做” 与 “干”]
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* [https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/524202474403272445.html?qbl=relate_question_0&word=%D7%F6%BA%CD%B8%C9%20%D3%D0%CA%B2%C3%B4%C7%F8%B1%F0 求助“做”与“干”的区别]

Latest revision as of 06:40, 3 May 2022

干 (gàn) and 做 (zuò) are both verbs that mean "to do" as in "to do work" or "to have nothing to do." 做 can be used in both formal and informal settings, whereas 干 is used more often in informal speech and writing. A key difference between these words is that 做 also can mean "to make," whereas 干 does not have any similar usage.











B1HSK4ASV4567
干 (gàn) 做 (zuò)
Meaning to do to do, to make
Part of Speech verb verb
Formality informal flexible

干 has some common informal set phrases

These phrases are common in informal speech and writing (such as on WeChat), so you should really know them.

Common Phrases

  • gàn huóto work
  • gàn mato do what

Example Sentences

  • 你 在 干吗?我 想 请 你 帮 我 一 个 忙。 Nǐ zài gànmá ? wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.What are you doing? I'd like to ask you to do me a favor.
  • 过 很 多 活儿,但是 都 是 体力 活儿。 gàn guo hěn duō huór , dànshì dōu shì tǐlì huór.I've done a lot of work, but it's all manual labor.
  • 自行车 被 偷 了,这 是 他 的,不 是 我 的。 Zìxíngchē bèi tōu le, zhè shì tā gàn de, bù shì wǒ gàn de.The bike was stolen. It was his doing, not mine.
  • 我 是 一 个 快递员,每天 要 十二 个 小时 的 活儿,很 累。 Wǒ shì yī gè kuàidì yuán, měi tiān yào gàn shí'èr gè xiǎoshí de huór , hěn lèi.I'm a courier and I work twelve hours a day. It's very tiring.
  • 有时候 孩子 很 努力 帮 我们 干活 , 我 会 奖励 他 一个 巧克力 。 Yǒu shíhou háizi hěn nǔlì bāng wǒmen gànhuó , wǒ huì jiǎnglì tā yī gè qiǎokèlì.Sometimes the kid works really hard to help us out. I reward him with a chocolate.

做 meaning "to do" has some common set phrases

Common Phrases

  • 作业 zuò zuòyèto do homework
  • 运动 zuò yùndòngto do exercises
  • 测试 zuò cèshìto take a test
  • 手术 zuò shǒushùto have surgery; to perform surgery

Example Sentences

  • 最近 我 每天 都 运动Zuìjìn wǒ měi tiān dōu zuò yùndòng.I've been doing exercise every day lately.
  • 我 没有 作业Wǒ méiyǒu zuò zuòyè.I haven't done the homework.
  • 我 昨天 手术Wǒ zuótiān zuò le shǒushù.I had surgery yesterday.
  • 瑜伽 可以 帮助 你 放松 心情 。 Zuò yújiā kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ fàngsōng xīnqíng.Doing yoga helps you to relax your mind.
  • 因为 有 疫情,所以 我 需要 核酸 测试Yīnwèi yǒu yìqíng, suǒyǐ wǒ xūyào zuò hésuān cèshì .Because of the pandemic I had to do a nucleic acid test.

做 and 干 are often interchangeable

Just keep in mind that 干 is only suitable for informal language. Don't replace a 做 with 干 in a formal setting!

Common Phrases

  • 做 什么 / 干 什么 zuò shénme/gàn shénmeto do what

Example Sentences

  • 这 是 你  的 吗 ? Zhè shì nǐ gàn de ma?Did you do this?
  • 你 是 什么 的? asking about someone's jobNǐ shì zuò shénme de?What do you do?
  • 你 周末 准备  什么Nǐ zhōumò zhǔnbèi gàn shénme?What are you going to do on the weekend?
  • 我 相信 你们 , 但 这 件 不 能 这样  。 Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐmen, dàn zhè jiàn shì bù néng zhèyàng zuò.I trust you, but we can't do it this way.

做 can mean "to make"

Only 做 can be used in this way, and not 干.

Common Phrases

  • 做 计划zuò jìhuàto make plans
  • 做 决定 zuò juédìngto make decisions
  • 做爱 zuò'àito make love

Example Sentences

  • 这 件 事情 需要 你 自己 决定Zhè jiàn shìqing xūyào nǐ zìjǐ zuò juédìng .You need to make this decision on your own.
  • 每 次 去 旅游,我 都 会 计划Měi cì qù lǚyóu, wǒ dōu huì zuò jìhuà .Every time I go traveling, I make a plan.
  • 你们 只 是 朋友 吗?你们 有 没有 Nǐmen zhǐ shì péngyou ma? Nǐmen yǒu méiyǒu zuò guo ài?Are you just friends? Have you ever made love?

做 can mean "to be"

Only 做 can be used in this way, and not 干.

Common Phrases

  • 朋友 zuò péngyouto be friends
  • 医生 zuò yīshēngto be a doctor

Example Sentences

  • 长大 以后,父母 希望 我 一 个 医生Zhǎngdà yǐhòu, fùmǔ xīwàng wǒ zuò yī gè yīshēng.My parents hope I become a doctor when I grow up.
  • 我 不 想 和 你 朋友Wǒ bù xiǎng hé nǐ zuò péngyou.I don't want to be friends with you.

Sources and further reading

Websites