做起 (zuò qǐ) — to start doing (from scratch / from a starting point)

Definition

做起 is a separable verb: 做 (do) + 起 (start/begin). It emphasizes beginning an action 'from a starting point,' often paired with 从 (cóng) as in 从…做起. Contrast with 开始, which is the neutral general word for 'to begin'.

verb
to start doing (from scratch / from a starting point)

Examples

  • 做起。
    Cóng zuì jī chǔ de gōng zuò zuò qǐ hěn róng yì ràng rén jìn bù.
    Starting from the most basic work makes it easy for people to make progress.
  • 做起。
    Xué xí wài yǔ zuì hǎo cóng jiǎn dān de jù zi zuò qǐ.
    When learning a foreign language, it's best to start with simple sentences.
  • ，做起。
    Xiǎng yào chéng gōng, bì xū cóng xiǎo shì zuò qǐ.
    If you want to succeed, you must start with small things.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

做zuòdo
起qǐstart up

做 means do and 起 means start up, giving start doing.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 做 →

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

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