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 labor.
- 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. 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 。 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
- 做 作业 to do homework
- 做 运动 to do exercises
- 做 测试 to take a test
- 做 手术 to have surgery; to perform surgery
Example Sentences
- 最近 我 每天 都 做 运动。 I've been doing exercise every day lately.
- 我 没有 做 作业。 I haven't done the homework.
- 我 昨天 做 了 手术。 I had surgery yesterday.
- 做 瑜伽 可以 帮助 你 放松 心情 。 Doing yoga helps you to relax your mind.
- 因为 有 疫情，所以 我 需要 做 核酸 测试。 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 to do what
Example Sentences
- 这 是 你 干 的 吗 ？ Did you do this?
- 你 是 做 什么 的？ asking about someone's job
- 你 周末 准备 干 什么 ？ What are you going to do on the weekend?
- 我 相信 你们 ， 但 这 件 事 不 能 这样 做 。 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to make plans
- 做 决定 to make decisions
- 做爱 to make love
Example Sentences
- 这 件 事情 需要 你 自己 做 决定。 You need to make this decision on your own.
- 每 次 去 旅游，我 都 会 做 计划。 Every time I go traveling, I make a plan.
- 你们 只 是 朋友 吗？你们 有 没有 做 过 爱？ 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
- 做 朋友to be friends
- 做 医生to be a doctor
Example Sentences
- 长大 以后，父母 希望 我 做 一 个 医生。 My parents hope I become a doctor when I grow up.
- 我 不 想 和 你 做 朋友。 I don't want to be friends with you.
