做主

zuòzhǔ

verb #9,359

Meanings

1 to make a decision; to take charge
2 to decide for someone; to back someone up

Characters

master; host; main

To act as the master — to be the one who decides.

Examples

这件事你做主就好。

Zhè jiàn shì nǐ zuòzhǔ jiù hǎo.

You can make the call on this.

她在家里什么事都做主。

Tā zài jiālǐ shénme shì dōu zuòzhǔ.

She makes all the decisions at home.

你放心，我给你做主。

Nǐ fàngxīn, wǒ gěi nǐ zuòzhǔ.

Don't worry, I'll stand up for you.

Tips

usage

给某人做主 means to decide on someone's behalf or to back them up / seek justice for them. 自己做主 means to decide for yourself. Very common in period dramas: 请大人做主 (please deliver justice, my lord).

mistakes

Don't confuse 做主 (make a decision) with 作主 — both exist but 做主 is the standard modern form.

Stroke Order

做 zuò

主 zhǔ