制造

• Pinyin: zhì zào
• Hanzi breakdown: 制 = simplified from 製; 造 = 辶 (walk) + 告 (tell), originally meaning to visit, later 'to make'

Meaning

Manufacture; make; create. To produce goods through industrial processes, or figuratively to create situations or problems.

Primarily used for industrial manufacturing (制造汽车, manufacture cars). Also used figuratively to mean 'to create' problems, trouble, or opportunities (制造麻烦, create trouble; 制造机会, create opportunities). Associated with phrases like 中国制造 (Made in China). Different from 制作, which implies more craftsmanship or smaller-scale production.

Examples

1. 这家工厂制造各种电子产品。 This factory manufactures various electronic products.
2. 中国制造的商品出口到很多国家。 Goods manufactured in China are exported to many countries.
3. 不要制造不必要的麻烦。 Don't create unnecessary trouble.

Usage Guide

Context: industry, business, figurative

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这款手机是在哪里制造的？(Where was this phone manufactured?)
• 他总是制造各种借口。(He always makes up various excuses.)

Don't Say

• 她制造了一顿饭。(Don't use 制造 for cooking — use 做 or 做了一顿饭; 制造 implies industrial or large-scale production)

Origin & History

制 (make, control) + 造 (build, create). Together they mean 'to systematically build,' hence 'manufacture.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal