做
The English phrase 'doing' is translated into Chinese as 做.
The verb 做 is used when 'doing' involves a physical or creative process, such as making a meal or doing homework or for general actions and creating/making something.
Which one should you use?
While 做 is used for general actions or creating/making something, the word 办 is used specifically for 'doing' or 'handling' tasks, matters or procedures.
Did you know?
- The word 做 is used to describe the act of 'doing' a dream in the phrase 做梦, whereas English speakers 'have' a dream.
- While 做 means 'doing' or 'making', the word 做戏 literally means 'doing a play' but is used idiomatically to describe someone who is faking their emotions or acting phony.
- The character 做 was originally a vulgar variant of 作, with its shape changing over time as the 'suddenly' component was mistakenly written as 'old'.
Examples in context
- 你在做什麼？What are you doing?Tatoeba #6057717 by xjjAstrus, translation #16492 by CK
- 这是您做的事！This is your doing!Tatoeba #904611 by GlossaMatik, translation #904797 by Trailsend
- 汤姆在做什么？What's Tom doing?Tatoeba #1839130 by sadhen, translation #1543586 by CK
- 我在做饭。I am cooking.
- 我正在做工作报告。I am working on a project report.
- 我们进行了一场讨论。We had a discussion.
- 他们正在进行实验。They are conducting an experiment.
- 我在弄电话。I am fixing the phone.
- 我很忙，没时间。I am busy and have no time.
- 他一直很忙，很少休息。He is always busy and seldom rests.
- 我在干家务。I am doing housework.
- 201 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yuting and Zhiqiang are talking on the phone.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，你现在在做什么？Zhìqiáng, nǐ xiànzài zài zuò shénme?Zhiqiang, what are you doing now?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我在做作业。Wǒ zài zuò zuòyè.I am doing my homework.
- 雨婷 Yuting你还在做吗？Nǐ hái zài zuò ma?Are you still doing it?
- 志强 Zhiqiang是的，我快做完了。Shì de, wǒ kuài zuò wán le.Yes, I am almost done doing it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 做, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
