作业
homework; assignment
zuòyè
What does 作业 mean?
作业 (zuòyè) means 'homework' or 'assignment' — the schoolwork a teacher gives students to complete, usually outside of class. It is the standard word used by parents, teachers, and students from kindergarten through university. Two notes for English speakers: first, the verb that pairs with 作业 is 做 (zuò) 'to do' — 做作业 'do homework' — not 写 ('write') unless you specifically mean writing it out; '写作业' is also common and natural in spoken Chinese for written assignments.
Second, in technical or industrial contexts 作业 keeps a broader sense of 'operation' or 'task' (高空作业 high-altitude work, 野外作业 fieldwork), but learners will meet it almost exclusively in the school sense. For 'workbook' use 练习本 (liànxí běn), and for 'exercise / drill' use 练习 (liànxí).
Note: Standard word for school assignments at every level — from kindergarten to university. In professional/military contexts it can also mean 'operation / task' (野外作业 fieldwork)
Character breakdown
do; make; produce
trade; profession; task; course of study
Memory hook: 作 'do' + 业 'study/task' = the work-to-be-done for your studies.
Measure word for 作业
Example sentences
我还没做完作业。
Wǒ hái méi zuòwán zuòyè.
I haven't finished my homework yet.
spoken
老师今天给了我们很多作业。
Lǎoshī jīntiān gěi le wǒmen hěn duō zuòyè.
The teacher gave us a lot of homework today.
neutral
请大家明天交作业。
Qǐng dàjiā míngtiān jiāo zuòyè.
Everyone please hand in your homework tomorrow.
neutral
他每天晚上写作业写到十点。
Tā měitiān wǎnshang xiě zuòyè xiě dào shí diǎn.
Every night he does homework until ten o'clock.
spoken
妈妈在检查我的作业。
Māma zài jiǎnchá wǒ de zuòyè.
Mom is checking my homework.
spoken
Common phrases with 作业
Synonyms
功课 is a slightly older or more Taiwan-flavored word for schoolwork/lessons; mainland mainland speakers say 作业 in daily life. '做功课' is fine but sounds a touch formal or Cantonese-influenced.
练习 means 'exercise / practice / drill' — the individual problems in a textbook or workbook. 作业 is the full assignment a teacher hands out. Many 作业 contain multiple 练习.
任务 = 'task / mission,' broader and more formal — used at work or in projects, not for school homework. 'Teacher gave us a
Don't confuse 作业 with
FAQ
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