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做主 (zuò zhǔ) — to make decisions, to be in charge, to decide

Definition

做主 means 'to make the final call / be the decision-maker' about a matter. Unlike 决定 (the act of deciding), it emphasizes who HAS THE AUTHORITY to decide, not the decision itself.

verb
to make decisionsto be in chargeto decide

Examples

  • 做主。
    Zhè jiàn shì yóu nǐ zuò zhǔ.
    This matter is up to you to decide.
  • ，。
    Wǒ zì jǐ zuò bù liǎo zhǔ, dé wèn jīng lǐ.
    I can't decide on my own; I have to ask the manager.
  • 做主。
    Jiā lǐ de dà shì dōu yóu bà ba zuò zhǔ.
    All the important family matters are decided by Dad.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

做zuòmake
主zhǔmaster

“做” means to take action, and “主” means the master of decisions, so together they express deciding or being in charge.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 做 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Management

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