Chinese–EnglishWith examples

作用

zuò yòng · zuo yong

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Old HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to act on; to affect
  2. action; function; activity
  3. impact; result; effect
  4. purpose; intent
  5. (suffix) -ation, -tion etc, as in 抑制作用 (yì zhì zuò yòng), inhibition
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In a conversation

0:17 cartoon

What does this thing do?

  1. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)知道(zhīdào)这个(zhège)小(xiǎo)东西(dōngxi)有(yǒu)什么(shénme)作用(zuòyòng)吗(ma)？

    Do you know what this little thing does?

  2. Liangliang

    不(bù)知道(zhīdào)。是(shì)不(bù)是(shì)用来(yònglái)开(kāi)瓶子(píngzi)？

    No. Is it for opening bottles?

  3. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)觉得(juéde)它(tā)的(de)作用(zuòyòng)是(shì)挂(guà)东西(dōngxi)。

    I think its function is to hang things.

  4. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)看(kàn)说明书(shuōmíngshū)吧(ba)。

    Read the instructions.

  5. Dengdeng

    说明书(shuōmíngshū)上(shàng)写(xiě)：它(tā)的(de)作用(zuòyòng)是(shì)好看(hǎokàn)。

    They say: its function is to look nice.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

无(wú)论(lùn)我(wǒ)们(men)是(shì)否(fǒu)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)电(diàn)脑(nǎo)，它(tā)在(zài)我(wǒ)们(men)的(de)生(shēng)活(huó)中(zhōng)始(shǐ)终(zhōng)起(qǐ)着(zhe)重(zhòng)要(yào)的(de)作(zuò)用(yòng)。

Computers are certainly playing an important role in our life, whether we like it or not.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Gustav249 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)药(yào)对(duì)缓(huǎn)解(jiě)头(tóu)痛(tòng)有(yǒu)明(míng)显(xiǎn)的(de)作(zuò)用(yòng)。

This medicine has a clear effect on relieving headaches.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
作
zuò

to do; to engage in; to write; to compose

用
yòng

to use; to employ

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with ZExplore words in context