造 (zào) · to make, to build, to create

Meanings

1 to make
2 to build
3 to create

Characters

造

zào

to make; to build; to create

Contains the movement radical 辶, suggesting the process of going and making something.

Examples

HSK 3

请用这个词造一个句子。

Qǐng yòng zhège cí zào yí gè jùzi.

Please make a sentence with this word.

HSK 4

这座桥是谁造的？

Zhè zuò qiáo shì shéi zào de?

Who built this bridge?

HSK 4

中国人造了长城。

Zhōngguó rén zào le Chángchéng.

The Chinese built the Great Wall.

Tips

usage

造句 = to make a sentence - a common exercise in Chinese language class. 制造 = to manufacture.

Components

radical

辶 chuò

to walk; motion (radical form of 辵)

Bottom-left motion radical - the indexing radical, the bottom-wrap form of 辵. Names the active, going-out-into-the-world quality of 造: to make, to construct, to go-and-do. Same family: 进 (advance), 边 (side), 这 (this), 过 (cross over), 道 (road) - all involve travel or active progression.

phonetic

告 gào

to inform; to announce

Inner 告 supplies the sound, with gào shifting to zào in 造 - a notable g/z initial alternation typical of this phonetic series. 告 originally pictured a sacrificial ox 牛 over a mouth 口 - an oath or proclamation. Faintly semantic in 造: making something brings it forth into announcement. Same phonetic family: 浩 (vast), 皓 (bright), 靠 (lean on).