做 (zuò)

做 is a general-purpose verb meaning to do, to make, or to perform an activity. It is one of the most versatile verbs in Chinese and appears in countless everyday phrases.

Meanings

[verb] To do (an activity or task).
[verb] To make (a physical object or food).
[verb] To work as, to be (in a profession): 做老师 (be a teacher).

Example Sentences

你在做什么？ Nǐ zài zuò shénme? What are you doing?

妈妈在做饭。 Māma zài zuòfàn. Mom is cooking (making a meal).

他做了一个很好的决定。 Tā zuò le yī gè hěn hǎo de juédìng. He made a very good decision.

她做老师已经十年了。 Tā zuò lǎoshī yǐjīng shí nián le. She has been a teacher for ten years already.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
做饭	cook a meal
做作业	do homework
做事	do things, handle matters
做梦	dream (have a dream)
做到	accomplish, manage to do
做生意	do business

Memory Hook

做 has the person radical (亻) on the left, and a complex right side. A person performs an action: that is doing or making.