zuò jiāwù: 做家务 - To do housework, To do chores

• Keywords: zuo jiawu, 做家务, do housework in Chinese, Chinese for chores, household chores, family work, Chinese vocabulary, learn Chinese, HSK 2 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese phrase 做家务 (zuò jiāwù), which directly translates to “to do housework” or “to do chores.” This comprehensive guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance in Chinese families, and practical, everyday usage with over 10 example sentences. Discover how this common verb-object phrase reflects family roles, responsibilities, and the importance of a harmonious home in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuò jiāwù
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To perform household chores and duties.
• In a Nutshell: 做家务 is a straightforward and fundamental term for the entire category of tasks required to maintain a home. It's a combination of “to do” (做) and “home-related duties” (家务). Think of it as the go-to umbrella term for cleaning, cooking, laundry, and general tidying up within the context of the family home.

• 做 (zuò): This character means “to do,” “to make,” or “to be.” It's one of the most common verbs in Chinese, signifying action and creation.
• 家 (jiā): This character means “home” or “family.” The top part (宀) is a radical representing a “roof,” while the bottom part (豕) was originally a pictograph of a pig. In ancient China, a pig in the house was a sign of a settled, domestic home.
• 务 (wù): This character means “affair,” “business,” or “duty.” It refers to tasks or matters that require attention.

When combined, the characters literally mean “to do family duties” (做 + 家 + 务), which perfectly captures the English concept of “doing housework.”

In Chinese culture, 做家务 is more than just a set of tasks; it's a reflection of family responsibility and harmony. The state of the home is often seen as an extension of the family's inner state. A clean, orderly home (家) is a sign of a well-functioning and harmonious family unit. This contrasts with some Western, individualistic perspectives where chores might be viewed simply as a personal burden or something to be outsourced. In China, participating in 做家务 is often considered a fundamental duty, an expression of care for the family, and a way for children to show filial piety (孝顺, xiàoshùn) by helping their parents. Traditionally, there was a strong cultural concept of “men manage the outside, women manage the inside” (男主外，女主内 - nán zhǔ wài, nǚ zhǔ nèi), which placed the burden of housework primarily on women. While this is rapidly changing in modern urban China, with more couples sharing duties, the expectation of a well-kept home remains culturally significant.

做家务 is a high-frequency term used in everyday conversation. It's neutral in tone and can be used in almost any informal or semi-formal context when discussing daily life.

• Daily Conversation: People use it to describe their daily routine, make plans, or delegate tasks within the family. “I'm tired from doing housework all day.” or “Whose turn is it to do the housework?”
• Expressing Likes/Dislikes: It's common to hear people talk about their feelings toward chores, e.g., “I hate doing housework, especially washing dishes.”
• Division of Labor: In modern households, couples often discuss the “division of labor for housework” (家务分工, jiāwù fēngōng).

The connotation is generally neutral, but it often appears in contexts of complaining or feeling tired, just as in English. However, the act of doing housework is viewed as virtuous and responsible.

• Example 1:
  • 我每天都做家务。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān dōu zuò jiāwù.
  • English: I do housework every day.
  • Analysis: A simple statement of fact about a daily routine. The adverb 都 (dōu) emphasizes that this happens “every” single day.
• Example 2:
  • 在你家，谁做家务？
  • Pinyin: Zài nǐ jiā, shéi zuò jiāwù?
  • English: In your family, who does the housework?
  • Analysis: A common question to understand family dynamics. 谁 (shéi) is the question word for “who.”
• Example 3:
  • 我妈妈正在做家务，她很忙。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ māma zhèngzài zuò jiāwù, tā hěn máng.
  • English: My mom is doing housework right now, she is very busy.
  • Analysis: The use of 正在 (zhèngzài) indicates an action in progress, equivalent to the “-ing” form in English.
• Example 4:
  • 我最讨厌做家务了，特别是洗碗。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuì tǎoyàn zuò jiāwù le, tèbié shì xǐ wǎn.
  • English: I hate doing housework the most, especially washing dishes.
  • Analysis: Shows how to express a strong negative feeling. 最讨厌 (zuì tǎoyàn) means “to hate the most.”
• Example 5:
  • 我和我丈夫一起做家务。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hé wǒ zhàngfu yìqǐ zuò jiāwù.
  • English: My husband and I do housework together.
  • Analysis: This reflects a modern approach to shared responsibilities. 一起 (yìqǐ) means “together.”
• Example 6:
  • 做家务很累，但是看到干净的家，我就很开心。
  • Pinyin: Zuò jiāwù hěn lèi, dànshì kàndào gānjìng de jiā, wǒ jiù hěn kāixīn.
  • English: Doing housework is very tiring, but when I see a clean home, I feel very happy.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows a cause-and-effect relationship and a positive outcome, linking the work to the reward of a pleasant environment.
• Example 7:
  • 你能帮我做点儿家务吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zuò diǎnr jiāwù ma?
  • English: Can you help me do a little housework?
  • Analysis: Note how the phrase is split here. This is common. 帮 (bāng) means “to help,” and 点儿 (diǎnr) softens the request, meaning “a little bit.”
• Example 8:
  • 今天的家务你做完了吗？
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de jiāwù nǐ zuò wán le ma?
  • English: Have you finished today's housework?
  • Analysis: Here, 家务 is used as a noun, and 做 acts on it. The result complement 完 (wán) indicates completion of the action.
• Example 9:
  • 孩子应该从小学习做家务。
  • Pinyin: Háizi yīnggāi cóngxiǎo xuéxí zuò jiāwù.
  • English: Children should learn to do housework from a young age.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects a common cultural value in China about teaching children responsibility.
• Example 10:
  • 为了做家务这件事，他们吵了一架。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zuò jiāwù zhè jiàn shì, tāmen chǎo le yí jià.
  • English: They had a fight over the matter of doing housework.
  • Analysis: This shows how 家务 can be a source of conflict. 这件事 (zhè jiàn shì) specifies “this matter.”

• Verb-Object Phrase: The most important thing to remember is that 做家务 is a set verb-object phrase. You cannot add another object after it.
  • Incorrect: 我 做家务 房间。(Wǒ zuò jiāwù fángjiān.) - I do housework room.
  • Correct: 我 打扫 房间。(Wǒ dǎsǎo fángjiān.) - I clean the room.
  • Correct: 我 做家务，比如打扫房间和洗衣服。(Wǒ zuò jiāwù, bǐrú dǎsǎo fángjiān hé xǐ yīfu.) - I do housework, for example cleaning the room and washing clothes.
• Distinguishing from “Working from Home”: For English speakers, it's crucial not to confuse 做家务 (unpaid household labor) with “working from home” (professional job). The term for working from home is 在家工作 (zài jiā gōngzuò) or 居家办公 (jūjiā bàngōng).
• Splitting the Phrase: As seen in Example 7, it's possible to split the phrase with modifiers like duration or quantity, e.g., 做 一小时 家务 (zuò yì xiǎoshí jiāwù - do one hour of housework) or 做 一点儿 家务 (zuò yìdiǎnr jiāwù - do a little housework).

• 打扫 (dǎsǎo) - To clean, to sweep. A very common and specific type of 家务.
• 收拾 (shōushi) - To tidy up, to put in order. Refers to organizing clutter, a key part of 做家务.
• 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu) - To wash clothes. A verb-object phrase for a specific chore.
• 做饭 (zuò fàn) - To cook a meal. Another verb-object phrase for a core household task.
• 家务活儿 (jiāwùhuór) - A more colloquial, especially northern, term for housework. The 儿 (ér) suffix adds an informal, spoken feel.
• 分工 (fēngōng) - To divide the work. Often used in the phrase 家务分工 (jiāwù fēngōng) to describe how a couple or family divides chores.
• 家庭主妇 (jiātíng zhǔfù) - Housewife. The person, traditionally a woman, whose main occupation is managing the household and doing 家务.
• 懒 (lǎn) - Lazy. A person who doesn't like to 做家务 might be described as 懒.
• 劳动 (láodòng) - Labor, work (especially physical). 家务 is considered a type of domestic 劳动.
• 家事 (jiāshì) - Family matters. This is a broader term than 家务; it can include chores, but also family relationships, finances, and other private affairs.