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作主 (zuò zhǔ) — to make the final decision; to have the final say

Definition

A verb meaning 'to make the final decision; to have the final say', usually used with the potential complement (作得了/作不了主) to ask whether someone has the authority to decide.

verb
to make the final decisionto have the final say

Examples

  • 作主？
    Zhè jiàn shì yóu shuí lái zuò zhǔ?
    Who has the final say on this matter?
  • ？
    Tā zuò dé le zhè ge zhǔ ma?
    Can he make the decision on this?
  • 。
    Wǒ zài jiā lǐ zuò bù liǎo zhǔ.
    I don't have the final say at home.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

作zuòact
主zhǔmaster

作 means to act or make, and 主 means master, so together they express taking charge and making the final decision.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →
Appears in
Will & Intention

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