作

zuō, zuò

乍 + 亻

Definitions

zuò (verb) to do; to make; to write; to compose

zuò (verb) to act; to pretend

zuò (noun) work; writings

zuō (noun) workshop; worker

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 乍 represents the sound.

About

作 (zuò) is a phono-semantic compound combining the person radical 亻 (rén), which signals human action, and the phonetic component 乍 (zhà). Its earliest recorded meaning was the physical act of rising, standing up, or starting to move. From this, the sense broadened to doing, making, or producing. Today it is a common verb meaning to make, to write, or to engage in work.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他每天努力工作。

Tā měitiān nǔlì gōngzuò.

He works hard every day.

我在家作作业。

Wǒ zài jiā zuò zuòyè.

I am doing homework at home.

这个药有副作用。

Zhège yào yǒu fùzuòyòng.

This medicine has side effects.

他的作品获得了大奖。

Tā de zuòpǐn huòdéle dàjiǎng.

His work won a big prize.

作为学生，应该认真学习。

Zuòwéi xuéshēng, yīnggāi rènzhēn xuéxí.

As a student, one should study seriously.

我们合作完成了这个项目。

Wǒmen hézuò wánchéngle zhège xiàngmù.

We completed this project through cooperation.

他在公司担任制作人。

Tā zài gōngsī dānrèn zhìzuòrén.

He works as a producer at the company.

这种材料可以作为替代品。

Zhè zhǒng cáiliào kěyǐ zuòwéi tìdàipǐn.

This material can be used as a substitute.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 乍

Component: 亻

Example Words