Mandarin Chinese reference
作
zuò
to compose; to make (formal); to act as
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
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Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zuòcompose |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zuò lecomposed |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zuò guohave composed before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài zuòbe composing |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào zuò lebe about to compose |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì zuòwill compose |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bú zuòdo not compose |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi zuòdid not compose |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zuò ma?do you compose? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zuò bu zuò?do you compose? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.