v.
To perform concrete manual labor or craft — shaping raw materials into objects. To do, make, produce, cook, work as, or simply act: the all-purpose verb for human activity.
做
Crafting, cooking, or producing tangible things with your hands.
Look at the left side of 做: it has 亻 (a person). 做 is the active, hands-on maker verb. Whether rolling dough for noodles (做面条), whipping up dinner (做饭), or engaging in an activity (做工作), it points to concrete, physical effort.
Common Usage & Traps
- 做饭 — cook a meal
- 做菜 — make dishes / cook
- 做好 — finish making, get done properly
- 做什么 — what are you doing
- 做朋友 — be friends
-
作饭做饭Physical cooking and hands-on making always use 做 with the person radical 亻.
-
制造饭做饭制造 means industrial factory manufacturing. Everyday meals are always 做饭.
How do you choose between the two zuò characters: 做 and 作?
Use 做 for tangible hands-on work and cooking; use 作 for abstract writing, work, and roles.
Even native speakers sometimes mix these up, but the rule is straightforward: 做 (with the person radical 亻) handles tangible, physical creation that you make with your hands: 做饭 (cook meals), 做菜 (make dishes), 做好 (finish doing). 作 belongs to formal, abstract, or written concepts: 作业 (homework), 工作 (work), 作家 (author).
| Category | Character | Natural Phrases | Mental Anchor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-on making / cooking | 做 | 做饭, 做菜, 做面条 | Physical hands at work |
| Abstract work / literature | 作 | 工作, 作业, 作文 | Formal, intellectual creation |
Why do Chinese people say 做饭 instead of using words like boil or fry?
做 is the warm, all-inclusive umbrella verb for 'preparing a meal', exactly like 'make dinner'.
While Chinese has specific technique verbs like 煮 (boil), 炒 (stir-fry), and 烤 (bake), everyday conversation almost always relies on 做. Saying 做饭 or 做菜 refers to the whole loving process of cooking and preparing food for yourself or guests: 教我做几个北京菜 (teach me to make a few Beijing dishes).
| Context | Everyday Umbrella Verb | Overly Technical Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking dinner | 做饭 (Make a meal) | 烹饪 (Too formal/bookish) |
| Making noodles | 做面条 (Cook noodles) | 煮面条 (Specific to boiling) |
| Preparing Beijing food | 做北京菜 | 制作北京菜 (Sounds like factory production) |
Does 你在做什么 mean 'What are you doing?' or 'What is your job?'
With 在 it means 'What are you doing right now?'; without 在 it asks about career/hobbies.
Adding 在 locks the question into the immediate present moment: 你在做什么? means 'What are you doing right now?'. If someone asks 你做什么工作? or 你是做什么的?, they are asking about your profession. Keep 在 in mind as the live-action trigger.
| Question | Real Meaning | Typical Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 你在做什么？ | What are you doing right now? | 我在买东西。(I'm shopping.) |
| 你做什么工作？ | What kind of work do you do? | 我是老师。(I am a teacher.) |
Appears in Stories 13 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.
-
做 什么？
In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.
-
我说：”今天谢大中不想和我 做 好朋友了。
In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.
-
哪个大孩子会这样 做 呢？
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
-
大中很高兴， 做 了一杯热茶，给老先生喝。
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
-
老先生天天都给大中 做 热面条。
-
今天外边太冷了，我给你 做 热面条。”
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
-
对面 做 服装的老总接话说，那你还撑什么。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
-
我自己还下了一个APP， 做 HSK题，自己学了最多两百个小时。
Join a beginner as they ask a Chinese friend to teach them how to cook. This simple HSK 1 dialogue shows that learning one dish at a time is the best way to start.
-
小米问我，我想学 做 什么菜。
-
我说，我想学 做 中国菜。
This simple story introduces you to a family and what each member likes to do. Learn helpful words for food and daily activities as you read about Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and the kids.
-
妹妹 做 晚饭。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
-
他除了 做 饼干、卖饼干，还爱读一点书，喜欢与人讨论政治制度。
-
如有我可以帮你小忙的事，如找你自己找不着的书之类，我一定很愿意 做 ，”从此，元真便成了博士胡之适的“我的朋友”了。
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
-
明天苹果十九出来了，大家都想 做 第一个买到苹果十九的人。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
-
你正在 做 什么？”
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
-
他说周六可以教我 做 几个北京菜。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
No questions or discussions yet. Have a question about this character/word? Be the first to ask!