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作 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
作zuōto doHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōto growHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōto write or composeHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōto pretendHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōto regard asHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōto feelHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōwritings or worksHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōto make; to write, to compose; to act, to performHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōworkerHSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōworkshopHSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuō(slang) troublesomeHSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuōhigh-maintenance (person)HSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòto doHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòto growHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòto write or composeHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòto pretendHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòto regard asHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòto feelHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòwritings or worksHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòto make; to write, to compose; to act, to performHSK 6, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòworkerHSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòworkshopHSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuò(slang) troublesomeHSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
作zuòhigh-maintenance (person)HSK 6, unknown, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #700, Hard
zuō(zuo1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1to do
  2. 2to grow
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

作zuō(zuo1)

The character 作 (zuō) primarily means 'to do' or 'to make,' but it has a wide range of applications including 'to write' or 'to compose.' It is often used in contexts involving creation, performance, or action, and can also imply a sense of pretending or behaving in a certain way.

Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#700DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, the term 作家 (zuòjiā) means 'writer' and reflects the high regard for literary creation in Chinese culture, where writing is seen as both an art form and a means of self-expression.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person 'doing' (作) something with their hands while holding a piece of paper to 'write' (作) a story. The left part of the character resembles hands working, while the right part relates to writing, reinforcing the idea of action and creation.

Meanings of 作

zuō(zuo1)
primary
1to do
2to grow
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 作

作Simplified
7Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#700Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1

Podcast: 作

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Podcast: 作

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 作

Quick Contrast

作 (zuō) vs 做 (zuò) — use 作 when emphasizing creation or composition, while 做 is more about performing an action or task.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 作 with 做 (zuò), which also means 'to do' but is used in different contexts. 作 is typically more formal and can refer to creating works, while 做 is about practical actions. Pay attention to tone as it can change meanings.

HSK Study Tips

作 is part of HSK Level 4 vocabulary. It connects with other action-related verbs at this level, and learners should focus on its various meanings and how it combines with other characters to form compound words.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 作 in contexts where 做 is required, such as saying '我作饭' (I make food) instead of '我做饭.' Additionally, confusing the tones can lead to incorrect meanings, so practicing the tonal differences is crucial.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 作

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Etymology of 作

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 乍 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

A person 亻 making something for the first time 乍; 乍 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 作

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 乍 represents the sound.

  1. 1The giveawayA person 亻 making something for the first time 乍; 乍 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 作? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 作?

Decomposition of 作

IDS Structure⿰亻乍
作Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
乍zha4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 作?

How to say to do in Chinese

“to do” in Chinese is作zuō

The character 作 (zuō) primarily means 'to do' or 'to make,' but it has a wide range of applications including 'to write' or 'to compose.' It is often used in contexts involving creation, performance, or action, and can also imply a sense of pretending or behaving in a certain way.

When to use 作

Learners often confuse 作 with 做 (zuò), which also means 'to do' but is used in different contexts. 作 is typically more formal and can refer to creating works, while 做 is about practical actions. Pay attention to tone as it can change meanings.

作 or something close to it

作 (zuō) vs 做 (zuò) — use 作 when emphasizing creation or composition, while 做 is more about performing an action or task.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 作 in contexts where 做 is required, such as saying '我作饭' (I make food) instead of '我做饭.' Additionally, confusing the tones can lead to incorrect meanings, so practicing the tonal differences is crucial.

Write 作

作

Practice writing 作 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 作

作 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 12 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

你先吃饭，再做____业。

First eat, then do homework.

Example Sentences for 作 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我讨厌被看作政治机器。

wǒ tǎo yàn bèi kàn zuò zhèng zhì jī qì。

I get sick of being thought of as a political automaton.
2
有人给我们作了介绍，我挨着他坐下了。

yǒu rén gěi wǒ mén zuò le jiè shào， ， wǒ āi zháo tā zuò xià。

Someone introduced us and I sat next to him.
3
她知道有关我的学业、医院工作等所有的一切。

tā zhī dào yǒu guān wǒ de xué yè、 、 yī yuàn gōng zuò děng suǒ yǒu de yī。

She knew all about my schoolwork, my hospital work etc.
4
我可以不受打扰继续我的工作了。

wǒ kě yǐ bù shòu dǎ rǎo jì xù wǒ de gōng zuò le。

I was able to get on with my work without interruption.
5
我会接受任何给我的工作，只要是正当的。

wǒ huì jiē shòu rèn hé gěi wǒ de gōng zuò， ， zhī yào shì zhèng dāng。

I will take any job that comes along, within reason.
6
我工作非常有效率，处事果断，而且判断准确。

wǒ gōng zuò fēi cháng yǒu xiào shuài， ， chǔ shì guǒ， duàn ， ér qiě pàn duàn。

I work very efficiently and am decisive, and accurate in my judgement.
7
他宣称道：“我为自己的所作所为感到兴奋不已。”

tā xuān chēng dào：“ ：“ wǒ wéi zì jǐ de suǒ zuò suǒ wéi gǎn dào xīng fèn bù。”

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have done what I've done," he declared.
8
我毕业后可以不费吹灰之力地找到任何工作。

wǒ bì yè hòu kě yǐ bù fèi chuī huī zhī lì dì zhǎo dào rèn hé gōng zuò。

When I left school, I could walk into any job.
9
对于现况的不满，不能只是抱怨，要有作出改变。

duì yú xiàn kuàng de bù mǎn， ， bù néng zhī shì bào， yuàn ， yào yǒu zuò chū。

If you're not satisfied with the life you're living, don't just complain. Do something about it.
10
首相承诺以色列将发挥积极的作用。

shǒu xiāng chéng nuò yǐ sè liè jiāng fā huī jī jí de zuò yòng。

The Prime Minister has promised that Israel will play a constructive role.

Word Family of 作

Compounds3
筰
宱
莋
Words Containing This Character20
工作gōngzuòto work
作为zuòwéideed作為
作zuōto do
合作hézuòto cooperate
作用zuòyòngto act on
动作dòngzuòmovement動作
作品zuòpǐnopus
制作zhìzuòto make製作
操作cāozuòto work
作者zuòzhěauthor
工作人员staff member工作人員
作业zuòyèhomework作業
作家zuòjiāauthor
当作dàngzuòto treat as當作
创作chuàngzuòto create創作
运作yùnzuòto operate運作
作战zuòzhàncombat作戰
作证to testify作證
发作fāzuòto flare up發作
作风zuòfēngstyle作風
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 工作 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 作

No, while 作 can mean 'to write,' it also encompasses actions like 'to do,' 'to make,' and 'to act.'

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