Usage note
造表示制作或建造东西。
Zào biǎoshì zhìzuò huò jiànzào dōngxi.
To make means to create or build something.
Context note
我们可以造房子、造玩具，意思是动手做出东西来。
Wǒmen kěyǐ zào fángzi, zào wánjù, yìsi shì dòngshǒu zuò chū dōngxi lái.
We can make houses, make toys, meaning to use hands to create things.
5 examples
工人叔叔造了一座桥。
gōng rén shū shu zào le yí zuò qiáo。
The worker uncle made a bridge.
我们用积木造了一个城堡。
wǒ men yòng jī mù zào le yí gè chéng bǎo。
We made a castle with building blocks.
小鸟在树上造了一个窝。
xiǎo niǎo zài shù shàng zào le yí gè wō。
The little bird made a nest in the tree.
爷爷造了一个小木船。
yé ye zào le yí gè xiǎo mù chuán。
Grandpa made a small wooden boat.
我们造了一个雪人。
wǒ men zào le yí gè xuě rén。
We made a snowman.
5 mini stories
小明用沙子造了一个城堡。他玩得很开心。
xiǎo míng yòng shā zi zào le yí gè chéng bǎo。 tā wán dé hěn kāi xīn。
Xiao Ming made a castle with sand. He had a lot of fun.
小红用纸造了一架飞机。她把它飞上了天。
xiǎo hóng yòng zhǐ zào le yí jià fēi jī。 tā bǎ tā fēi shàng le tiān。
Xiao Hong made a paper airplane. She flew it into the sky.
小华用木头造了一个小房子。他放了一个小床在里面。
xiǎo huá yòng mù tou zào le yí gè xiǎo fáng zi。 tā fàng le yí gè xiǎo chuáng zài lǐ miàn。
Xiao Hua made a small house with wood. He put a small bed inside.
小丽用泥土造了一个花瓶。她插了一朵花。
xiǎo lì yòng ní tǔ zào le yí gè huā píng。 tā chā le yì duǒ huā。
Xiao Li made a vase with clay. She put a flower in it.
小刚用乐高造了一辆汽车。他推着它跑。
xiǎo gāng yòng lè gāo zào le yí liàng qì chē。 tā tuī zhe tā pǎo。
Xiao Gang made a car with Lego. He pushed it to run.
Mini dialogue
Making a Paper Plane
A
你会造纸飞机吗？
Nǐ huì zào zhǐ fēijī ma?
Can you make a paper plane?
B
会，我教你造一个。
Huì, wǒ jiāo nǐ zào yī gè.
Yes, I'll teach you to make one.
Building a Sandcastle
A
我们一起造沙堡吧！
Wǒmen yīqǐ zào shābǎo ba!
Let's make a sandcastle together!
B
好主意！我来造塔楼。
Hǎo zhǔyì! Wǒ lái zào tǎlóu.
Good idea! I'll make the tower.
Related words and contrasts
similar
做
zuò
to make; to do
common word for making or doing
similar
制造
zhì zào
to manufacture
often for making things in factories
related
建造
jiàn zào
to build
specifically for constructing buildings or structures