做东

zuò dōng

to act as host

HSK 6

漢字分解

Meaning and Usage

"做东" literally means "to act as the host" or "to be the one who treats others," often used in social contexts such as dinners, gatherings, or parties. It implies taking responsibility for organizing and paying for the event.

Common Contexts

This phrase is frequently used when someone offers to pay or organize a social event, showing generosity and hospitality. It is often associated with invitations and social bonding.

Collocations and Patterns

Nuances

Using "做东" emphasizes the role of the host as the one who pays or organizes, which is a culturally significant gesture of goodwill. It is informal and common in everyday speech.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse "做东" with simply "做主" (to be the owner) or "" as a direction or surname. Here, "" is part of a fixed phrase meaning host.

例文

这次聚会由李先生做东,大家都很开心。

Zhè cì jùhuì yóu Lǐ xiānsheng zuò dōng, dàjiā dōu hěn kāixīn.

Mr. Li is hosting this gathering, and everyone is very happy.

他请客做东,大家都很感激他的慷慨。

Tā qǐngkè zuò dōng, dàjiā dōu hěn gǎnjī tā de kāngkǎi.

He treated everyone as the host, and everyone appreciated his generosity.

下次聚餐你来做东吧,我请客。

Xià cì jùcān nǐ lái zuò dōng ba, wǒ qǐngkè.

You host the next dinner; I'll treat.