造成 (zào chéng) — to cause, to bring about, to create (usually ne…

Definition

造成 (zào chéng) means 'to cause / bring about' and is used for problems, damage, or negative outcomes. Stronger than 引起 and 产生; near-synonym with 导致.

verb

to causeto bring aboutto create (usually negative or neutral consequences)

造成。
Zhè chǎng dà yǔ zào chéng le chéng shì jī shuǐ.
This heavy rain caused waterlogging in the city.
造成。
Tā de yí jù huà zào chéng le wù huì.
One sentence from him caused a misunderstanding.
造成。
Bù liáng xí guàn kě néng zào chéng shēn tǐ wèn tí.
Bad habits can cause physical problems.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

造 means make and 成 means become, so the pair says bring about.

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

辵辵chuòto walk

Sound part声符shēngfú

屮

屮chè造zào

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Its origin is unclear, but early forms of 造 include 辵 (to walk) and 口, with 屮 as a sound part, and mean go or arrive.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng成chéng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Appears in