Comparing "gan" and "zuo"
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.
| 干 (gàn) | 做 (zuò) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to do | to do, to make |
| Part of Speech | verb | verb |
| Formality | informal | flexible |
Contents
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
- 干 活 to work
- 干 吗 to do what
Example Sentences
- 你 在 干吗？我 想 请 你 帮 我 一 个 忙。 What are you doing? I'd like to ask you to do me a favor.
- 我 干 过 很多 活儿，但是 都 是 体力 活儿。 I've done a lot of work, but it's all manual work.
- 自行车 被 偷 了，这 是 他 干 的，不 是 我 干 的。 The bike was stolen. It was his doing, not mine.
- 我 是 一 个 快递员，每天 要 干 十二 个 小时 的 活儿，很 累。 I'm a courier and I work twelve hours a day, which is 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 。 Sometimes I would reward my child with a chocolate when he worked hard for us.
做 meaning "to do" has some common set phrases
Common Phrases
- 做手术
- 做测试
- 做运动
- 做作业
Example Sentences
- 我昨天做了手术。
- 最近我每天都做运动。
- 我没有做作业。
- 做 瑜伽 可以 帮助 你 放松 心情 。
- 因为有疫情，所以我要做核酸测试。
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
Example Sentences
- 这 是 你 干 的 吗 ？
- 这 是 你 做 的 吗 ？
- 你是干什么的？
- 你是做什么的？
- 你 周末 准备 干什么 ？
- 你 周末 准备 做什么 ？
- 我 相信 你们 ， 这 件 事 却 不 能 这样 干 。
- 我 相信 你们 ， 这 件 事 却 不 能 这样 做 。
做 can mean "to make"
Common Phrases
- 做计划
- 做决定
- 做爱
Example Sentences
- 这件事情需要你自己做决定。
- 每次去旅游，我都会做计划。
- 你们是朋友吗？还是情侣？你们有没有做过爱？
做 can mean "to be"
Common Phrases
- 做朋友
- 做医生
Example Sentences
- 长大以后，父母希望我做一个医生。
- 我不想和你做朋友。
