合作 (hézuò) — to cooperate; cooperation

合作 (hézuò)

合作 means to work together toward a shared goal, and as a noun it refers to the cooperation or collaboration itself, used widely in business, international relations, and everyday contexts.

Meanings

1. [verb] to cooperate; to collaborate; to work together
2. [noun] cooperation; collaboration; partnership

Example Sentences

两国决定在科技领域加强合作。 Liǎng guó juédìng zài kējì lǐngyù jiāqiáng hézuò. The two countries decided to strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology.

成功的项目需要团队成员之间的密切合作。 Chénggōng de xiàngmù xūyào tuánduì chéngyuán zhījiān de mìqiè hézuò. A successful project requires close cooperation among team members.

他们公司与多家国际机构建立了合作关系。 Tāmen gōngsī yǔ duōjiā guójì jīgòu jiànlì le hézuò guānxi. Their company established cooperative relationships with several international organizations.

我们期待与贵公司展开合作。 Wǒmen qīdài yǔ guì gōngsī zhǎnkāi hézuò. We look forward to beginning cooperation with your company.

良好的合作精神是职场成功的关键。 Liánghǎo de hézuò jīngshén shì zhíchǎng chénggōng de guānjiàn. A good spirit of cooperation is the key to workplace success.

这次合作为双方带来了丰厚的利润。 Zhè cì hézuò wèi shuāngfāng dàilái le fēnghòu de lìrùn. This cooperation brought substantial profits for both parties.

Collocations

Usage Notes

合作 is a highly versatile word used in nearly every domain -- business, diplomacy, science, education, and daily life. 合 means "to combine/join" and 作 means "to do/work," so 合作 literally means "to join and work together."

It is commonly followed by a complement indicating the domain: 在某领域合作 (cooperate in a field) or 就某问题合作 (cooperate on an issue). In business Chinese, 合作伙伴 (partner) and 建立合作关系 (establish a cooperative relationship) are standard phrases.

Memory Hook

合 means "join/combine" and 作 means "work/do" -- 合作 is to "join and work," which is exactly what cooperation means.