Chinese Verb "做" (zuò)

to do / to make

Action verb

Basic Usage

Basic

Subject + 做 + object

我做作业。

Wǒ zuò zuòyè.

I do homework.

Occupation

Subject + 做 + job

你做什么工作？

Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò?

What do you do for work?

Completed Action (了 (le))

Completed with 了

Subject + 做 + 了 + object

我做了一个蛋糕。

Wǒ zuò le yí gè dàngāo.

I made a cake.

Experience (过 (guò))

Experience with 过

Subject + 做 + 过 + object

我做过中国菜。

Wǒ zuò guò Zhōngguó cài.

I have made Chinese food before.

Ongoing Action (在/着)

In progress with 在

Subject + 在 + 做 + object

她在做饭。

Tā zài zuòfàn.

She is cooking.

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future with 要

Subject + 要 + 做 + object

我要做一个决定。

Wǒ yào zuò yí gè juédìng.

I need to make a decision.

Negation (不/没)

Negative with 不

Subject + 不做 + object

他不做家务。

Tā bù zuò jiāwù.

He doesn't do housework.

Negative past

Subject + 没做 + object

我没做完。

Wǒ méi zuò wán.

I didn't finish doing it.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
做饭	zuòfàn	to cook
做梦	zuòmèng	to dream
做生意	zuò shēngyì	to do business
做到	zuòdào	to accomplish

Example Sentences

今天我做了很多事。

Jīntiān wǒ zuò le hěn duō shì.

Today I did many things.

做人要诚实。

Zuòrén yào chéngshí.

One should be honest.

她在做什么呢？

Tā zài zuò shénme ne?

What is she doing?