合作

• Pinyin: hé zuò
• Hanzi breakdown: 合 = lid fitting a container — to join together; 作 = 亻(person) + 乍 (suddenly) — to do or make

Meaning

To cooperate; to collaborate; cooperation. Working together towards a shared goal.

Functions as both a verb and a noun. Widely used in business, education, and everyday life. Common phrases: 合作伙伴 (partner/collaborator), 合作愉快 (happy collaboration — said at the end of working together), 国际合作 (international cooperation). Implies mutual effort and shared responsibility.

Examples

1. 这两家公司决定合作开发新产品。 These two companies decided to collaborate on developing a new product.
2. 只有大家合作，才能完成这个项目。 Only if everyone cooperates can we finish this project.
3. 和你合作非常愉快。 It has been a great pleasure working with you.

Usage Guide

Context: work, business, school

Tone: cooperative

Do Say

• 我们需要更多的合作。(We need more cooperation.)
• 希望以后有机会再合作。(I hope we'll have the chance to work together again.)

Don't Say

• 我和对手合作比赛。(Don't use 合作 when you mean competing — it means working together. Say 我和对手比赛.)

Origin & History

Compound of 合 (together/combine) and 作 (to do/work). Together they mean 'to work together' — cooperate.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal