TongTong
Sign in

运作 (yùn zuò) — to operate, to run (an organization, system, machine)

Definition

运作 highlights the ongoing internal process of how an organization or system works. Pairs with 经营 (the business strategy side) and 运行 (systems/programs/vehicles functioning technically).

verb
to operateto run (an organization, system, machine)

Examples

  • 运作。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yùn zuò dé hěn hǎo.
    This company operates very well.
  • 运作。
    Zhè ge cāo zuò xì tǒng yùn zuò dé hěn wěn dìng.
    This operating system runs very stably.
  • 运作。
    Jī qì yùn zuò shí bú yào yòng shǒu qù pèng.
    Don't touch the machine when it's running.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

运yùnoperate
作zuòwork

“运” (operate) and “作” (work) combine to mean operate or function.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 運; 运 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòmotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
軍
軍jūn運yùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 運 combines 辵, meaning motion, with 軍 to give the sound; the simplified 运 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 运 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Management5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.