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.
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.