做文章

zuòwénzhāng

phrase #33,748

Meanings

1 to make an issue of something
2 to make a big fuss over
3 to play up (an issue)
4 (literal) to write an essay

Characters

chapter, article

Examples

HSK 3

媒体在这件小事上大做文章。

Méitǐ zài zhè jiàn xiǎoshì shàng dà zuòwénzhāng.

The media is making a huge fuss over this trivial matter.

HSK 3

对方一定会拿这点做文章。

Duìfāng yīdìng huì ná zhè diǎn zuòwénzhāng.

The other side is sure to use this as ammunition.

Tips

usage

Two senses: literal ("write an essay/article") and figurative ("make political or rhetorical hay out of something"). The figurative is far more common - usually with 在...上做文章 ("to make an issue of [topic]") or 拿...做文章 ("to use [thing] as ammunition"). 大做文章 "make a big issue of" adds emphasis.

Stroke Order

做 zuò

文 wén

章 zhāng