zuòyè: 作业 - Homework, Assignment, Task

• Keywords: zuoye, 作业, homework in Chinese, Chinese word for assignment, Chinese schoolwork, zuoye meaning, what does zuoye mean, HSK 2 vocabulary
• Summary: “作业” (zuòyè) is the primary Chinese word for “homework” or “assignment,” a fundamental term for any student of the language. Beyond a simple translation, it reflects the immense cultural importance and pressure of the Chinese education system. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, practical use in daily life, and key differences from similar terms like “功课” (gōngkè) and “任务” (rènwù).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuò yè
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 2
• Concise Definition: An assigned piece of work or study, typically for a student.
• In a Nutshell: “作业” is what a teacher gives you to do after class. While it directly translates to “homework,” it carries the weight of long nights, high expectations, and a central role in a Chinese student's life. Think of it as the daily, tangible evidence of one's academic effort.

• 作 (zuò): This character means “to do,” “to make,” or “to work.” It's composed of the “person” radical (亻) on the left, indicating an action done by a person.
• 业 (yè): This character means “occupation,” “profession,” “course of study,” or “trade.” You can think of it as representing a specific field of work or learning.
• When combined, 作业 (zuòyè) literally means “work of one's study/occupation.” This logical combination creates the modern meaning of a task assigned as part of one's formal education or, in some cases, one's job.

In Chinese culture, education is often seen as the primary path to success and social mobility, and 作业 (zuòyè) is the daily grind on that path. The concept is far more intense than its Western counterpart. For a Chinese student, 作业 isn't just a 30-minute task; it can be several hours of work every night, even for elementary school students. It often involves rote memorization, repetition, and extensive problem sets, a practice known as “题海战术” (tí hǎi zhàn shù) or “sea of questions strategy.” This contrasts with some Western educational philosophies that may prioritize creative projects or conceptual understanding over sheer volume. In China, completing 作业 diligently is a sign of a good, hardworking student and a respectful child. Parents are heavily involved, often checking work every night, creating a dynamic of shared family pressure around academic performance that can be a source of both motivation and stress. For a learner, understanding the weight of 作业 is key to understanding modern Chinese family and student life.

作业 is used constantly in academic settings and can occasionally be used in a work context.

• In School and University: This is its most common usage. Students talk about having a lot of homework (作业太多了), doing homework (写作业/做作业), and handing in homework (交作业). It's a neutral term, but often used in complaints due to the heavy workload.
• In the Workplace: Less common, but 作业 can refer to a specific, defined task or operation, especially in technical or operational fields. For example, a factory worker might be assigned a specific “作业” for their shift. In this context, it's more formal than its school-based meaning and closer to “assigned task” or “operation.”

• Example 1:
  • 今天的作业你写完了吗？
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de zuòyè nǐ xiě wán le ma?
  • English: Have you finished today's homework?
  • Analysis: A very common, everyday question among students or from a parent to a child. “写” (xiě - to write) is a very common verb used with 作业.
• Example 2:
  • 老师给我们布置了好多作业。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī gěi wǒmen bùzhì le hǎo duō zuòyè.
  • English: The teacher assigned us a lot of homework.
  • Analysis: “布置” (bùzhì) is the specific verb for “to assign” homework or tasks. “好多” (hǎo duō) is a colloquial way of saying “a lot.”
• Example 3:
  • 我得快点儿，不然作业做不完了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ děi kuàidiǎnr, bùrán zuòyè zuò bu wán le.
  • English: I have to hurry, otherwise I won't be able to finish my homework.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the potential complement “做不完” (zuò bu wán), meaning “unable to finish doing.” It perfectly captures the pressure students often feel.
• Example 4:
  • 别忘了明天早上交数学作业。
  • Pinyin: Bié wàng le míngtiān zǎoshang jiāo shùxué zuòyè.
  • English: Don't forget to hand in the math homework tomorrow morning.
  • Analysis: “交” (jiāo) is the verb for “to hand in” or “to submit.”
• Example 5:
  • 他的作业总是写得很工整。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zuòyè zǒngshì xiě de hěn gōngzhěng.
  • English: His homework is always written very neatly.
  • Analysis: This is a compliment, showing that the quality of homework, not just its completion, is valued. “工整” (gōngzhěng) means neat and tidy.
• Example 6:
  • 寒假作业比我想象的要少。
  • Pinyin: Hánjià zuòyè bǐ wǒ xiǎngxiàng de yào shǎo.
  • English: The winter vacation homework is less than I imagined.
  • Analysis: Chinese students famously get homework over long holidays like winter (寒假 hánjià) and summer (暑假 shǔjià) break.
• Example 7:
  • 我们可以一起做小组作业吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ yīqǐ zuò xiǎozǔ zuòyè ma?
  • English: Can we do the group project together?
  • Analysis: “小组作业” (xiǎozǔ zuòyè) translates directly to “small group assignment,” or what we'd call a group project.
• Example 8:
  • 这次作业的成绩占总分的百分之二十。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì zuòyè de chéngjì zhàn zǒng fēn de bǎifēnzhī èrshí.
  • English: The grade for this assignment accounts for 20% of the total score.
  • Analysis: This shows how 作业 is directly tied to academic performance and grades (成绩 chéngjì).
• Example 9:
  • 妈妈每天晚上都会检查我的作业。
  • Pinyin: Māma měitiān wǎnshang dōu huì jiǎnchá wǒ de zuòyè.
  • English: My mom checks my homework every evening.
  • Analysis: This highlights the high level of parental involvement in a child's schoolwork, a key cultural point.
• Example 10:
  • 飞行员正在进行起飞前的准备作业。
  • Pinyin: Fēixíngyuán zhèngzài jìnxíng qǐfēi qián de zhǔnbèi zuòyè.
  • English: The pilot is carrying out pre-flight preparation procedures.
  • Analysis: This is an excellent example of the more formal, non-academic use of 作业 to mean “operation” or “task.” Here, it refers to a professional procedure.

• 作业 (zuòyè) vs. 功课 (gōngkè): This is a common point of confusion.
  • 作业 (zuòyè): The most common term in Mainland China for specific, assigned homework. It's the physical or digital work you hand in.
  • 功课 (gōngkè): More common in Taiwan and Hong Kong for homework. In Mainland China, it can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned. It can also mean “one's studies” in a broader sense (e.g., “你功课怎么样?” - How are your studies?). Rule of thumb for beginners: Use 作业 in Mainland China.
• 作业 (zuòyè) vs. 任务 (rènwù):
  • 作业 (zuòyè): An academic assignment or a specific operational task.
  • 任务 (rènwù): A mission or task. It's a much broader term. A boss assigns you a `任务`, a video game gives you a `任务`. It implies a goal to be achieved. Homework is a type of `任务`, but not all `任务` are `作业`.
  • Incorrect Usage: Saying “我今天的作业是打扫我的房间” (My homework today is to clean my room) is wrong. Cleaning your room is a chore, not assigned by a teacher. You would say “我今天的任务是打扫房间” (My task today is to clean the room).

• 功课 (gōngkè) - A close synonym for homework, also means “schoolwork” or “studies” more generally. More common in Taiwan/HK.
• 任务 (rènwù) - A task or mission; a broader term that encompasses work from a boss, a game, or a personal goal.
• 考试 (kǎoshì) - Exam or test. The other major component of a student's academic pressure.
• 学习 (xuéxí) - To study or learn. The general activity for which `作业` is assigned.
• 老师 (lǎoshī) - Teacher. The person who assigns the `作业`.
• 学生 (xuésheng) - Student. The person who does the `作业`.
• 布置 (bùzhì) - To assign (tasks, homework). The formal verb a teacher uses.
• 交 (jiāo) - To hand in, submit. A key verb used with `作业`.
• 写 (xiě) - To write. The most common verb for “doing” homework (e.g., `写作业`).
• 辅导班 (fǔdǎo bān) - Tutoring center or “cram school,” where students often go after school to get help with their `作业` and prepare for `考试`.