zuòkè: 做客 - To be a guest

• Keywords: zuoke meaning, zuo ke Chinese, to be a guest in Chinese, 做客, zuoke vs baifang, Chinese guest culture, Chinese hospitality, visiting someone's home in China
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 做客 (zuòkè), which means “to be a guest” in someone's home. This guide goes beyond a simple translation, exploring the deep cultural significance of hospitality in China, practical usage for invitations and visits, and how it differs from Western concepts of “dropping by.” Understand the social etiquette and expectations for both guests and hosts to navigate social situations in China with confidence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuòkè
• Part of Speech: Verb (specifically, a verb-object compound)
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To be a guest in someone's home, often for a meal or social gathering.
• In a Nutshell: 做客 (zuòkè) is not just about visiting; it's about playing the specific social role of a guest. It implies an invitation, a welcoming host, and a certain level of formality and warmth. Think of it as the act of being formally and warmly received in someone else's personal space, which is a significant social event in Chinese culture.

• 做 (zuò): The character's primary meaning is “to do,” “to make,” or “to be.” In this context, it functions as “to act as” or “to play the role of.”
• 客 (kè): This character means “guest,” “visitor,” or “customer.” It has an upper component 宀 (mián), the “roof” radical, suggesting a house, and a lower component 各 (gè). The whole character evokes the image of a visitor arriving at a dwelling.
• When combined, 做客 (zuòkè) literally translates to “to act as a guest,” perfectly capturing the essence of the term.

In Chinese culture, inviting someone to your home is a significant gesture of warmth, respect, and friendship. The act of 做客 (zuòkè) is central to building and maintaining relationships (关系, guānxi). Unlike the casual “dropping by” common in some Western cultures, 做客 is typically a planned event. The host (主人, zhǔrén) is expected to be hospitable (好客, hàokè), often preparing an abundance of food and making the guest feel as comfortable and honored as possible. This is a way for the host to show “face” (面子, miànzi) by demonstrating their generosity and capability. For the guest, the role also comes with expectations. It is customary to bring a small gift (礼物, lǐwù), such as fruit, tea, or a specialty from one's hometown. During the visit, the guest should be gracious, complimentary of the food and home, and engage warmly with the host's family. This reciprocal act of politeness strengthens the social bond. 做客 is therefore a dance of mutual respect and warmth that reinforces social harmony.

做客 (zuòkè) is a common and warm term used in everyday life.

• Invitations: You will often hear it when someone invites you to their home. For example, “有空来我家做客吧！” (Yǒu kòng lái wǒ jiā zuòkè ba! - “Come be a guest at my house when you have time!”).
• Describing Plans: You use it to tell people about your plans. “我这个周末要去朋友家做客。” (Wǒ zhège zhōumò yào qù péngyou jiā zuòkè. - “I'm going to be a guest at my friend's house this weekend.”).
• Formality: It's generally a neutral to positive term that can be used between friends, family, and colleagues. While it implies a certain structure to the visit (as opposed to just “hanging out”), it is not overly formal. It's the standard, polite way to refer to visiting someone's home.

• Example 1:
  • 欢迎你来我家做客。
  • Pinyin: Huānyíng nǐ lái wǒ jiā zuòkè.
  • English: You are welcome to come to my home as a guest.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, warm invitation. The host is explicitly welcoming the listener to visit their home.
• Example 2:
  • 我明天要去王老师家做客。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ míngtiān yào qù Wáng lǎoshī jiā zuòkè.
  • English: I am going to be a guest at Teacher Wang's house tomorrow.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a planned social visit. Note the structure “去 [place] 做客” (qù [place] zuòkè), meaning “to go to [place] to be a guest.”
• Example 3:
  • 谢谢你们的款待，今天在你们家做客很开心。
  • Pinyin: Xièxie nǐmen de kuǎndài, jīntiān zài nǐmen jiā zuòkè hěn kāixīn.
  • English: Thank you for your hospitality, I was very happy to be a guest at your home today.
  • Analysis: A polite phrase a guest would say upon leaving, expressing gratitude for the experience of being a guest.
• Example 4:
  • 小孩子们喜欢互相到家里做客。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎo háizi men xǐhuān hùxiāng dào jiā lǐ zuòkè.
  • English: Little children like going to each other's houses to be guests.
  • Analysis: This shows that the term applies to informal social contexts as well, like children's playdates.
• Example 5:
  • 他很少请朋友到家里做客。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn shǎo qǐng péngyou dào jiā lǐ zuòkè.
  • English: He rarely invites friends to his home to be guests.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 做客 from the host's perspective, focusing on the act of “inviting” someone for a visit.
• Example 6:
  • 去别人家做客，带个小礼物是基本的礼貌。
  • Pinyin: Qù biérén jiā zuòkè, dài ge xiǎo lǐwù shì jīběn de lǐmào.
  • English: When you go to someone's house as a guest, bringing a small gift is basic courtesy.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a key cultural norm associated with the act of 做客.
• Example 7:
  • 我妈妈说，在别人家做客的时候不要乱跑。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ māma shuō, zài biérén jiā zuòkè de shíhou bùyào luàn pǎo.
  • English: My mom says not to run around when you're a guest at someone else's house.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the behavioral expectations placed upon a guest, often taught from a young age.
• Example 8:
  • 这个周末有亲戚从老家来做客，我要好好准备一下。
  • Pinyin: Zhège zhōumò yǒu qīnqi cóng lǎojiā lái zuòkè, wǒ yào hǎohāo zhǔnbèi yīxià.
  • English: This weekend, relatives from my hometown are coming to be guests, I need to prepare well.
  • Analysis: This shows the host's side of the equation. A visit from relatives requires significant preparation.
• Example 9:
  • 你什么时候有空啊？来我们新家做客吧！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng a? Lái wǒmen xīn jiā zuòkè ba!
  • English: When are you free? Come be a guest at our new house!
  • Analysis: A common and friendly way to invite someone over, especially after moving into a new home.
• Example 10:
  • 作为客人，我们在主人家做客不能待得太晚。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi kèrén, wǒmen zài zhǔrén jiā zuòkè bù néng dāi de tài wǎn.
  • English: As guests, we shouldn't stay too late when we are visiting the host's home.
  • Analysis: This explicitly contrasts the roles of “guest” (客人) and “host” (主人) and points out another piece of social etiquette.

• 做客 (zuòkè) vs. 玩 (wán): For learners, a common point of confusion is when to use 做客 versus 玩 (wán - to play/hang out). If you are going to a friend's house for a meal, a planned chat over tea, or a specific social gathering, 做客 is appropriate. If you are just casually meeting up to play video games or hang out without much formality, 去朋友家玩 (qù péngyou jiā wán) is more natural.
• 做客 (zuòkè) vs. 拜访 (bàifǎng): 拜访 (bàifǎng) is more formal and often implies a specific purpose, such as visiting an elder, a superior, or a client. It carries a stronger sense of paying respect. 做客 is more general and warmer, used for visits between equals like friends and colleagues. You would 拜访 a respected professor, but you would 做客 at your friend's apartment.
• Mistake: Using 做客 for non-home visits. You cannot 做客 at a restaurant or a park. The term is intrinsically tied to being a guest in someone's home (家, jiā).
  • Incorrect: 我昨天在饭馆做客。 (Wǒ zuótiān zài fànguǎn zuòkè.)
  • Correct: 昨天朋友请客，我们在饭馆吃了饭。 (Zuótiān péngyou qǐngkè, wǒmen zài fànguǎn chī le fàn. - Yesterday my friend treated me, we ate at a restaurant.)

• 客人 (kèrén) - The noun for “guest.” 做客 is the verb of being a 客人.
• 主人 (zhǔrén) - The “host,” the person who invites the guest. The counterpart to 客人.
• 拜访 (bàifǎng) - A more formal verb for “to visit,” often used for elders, superiors, or for official/respectful purposes.
• 好客 (hàokè) - The adjective “hospitable.” A good host is always 好客.
• 请客 (qǐngkè) - “To treat someone” or “to play the host,” usually for a meal. This is what a 主人 does.
• 串门 (chuànmén) - “To drop in on someone,” especially a neighbor. It's much more casual and often unplanned than 做客.
• 礼物 (lǐwù) - “Gift” or “present.” It's customary to bring a 礼物 when you 做客.
• 款待 (kuǎndài) - A formal verb for “to entertain” or “to treat with hospitality.” It describes the host's actions.