Meaning of 运作
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to operate
- operations
- workings
- activities (usu. of an organization)
- thread (computing)
How to use 运作
运作 usually describes how an organization, system, or mechanism runs, and it can work as a verb or a noun. It sounds more formal than 工作 and often appears with words like 公司, 市场, or 系统. Example: 这家公司运作得很好。(Zhè jiā gōngsī yùnzuò de hěn hǎo.) This company operates very well.
运 (yùn) means to move or transport, and 作 (zuò) means to do or work. Put them together and you get something that keeps moving and working, like the inner workings of a company or system.
Common mistake: Learners often use 运作 for a person doing a job, but for people you say 工作 (gōngzuò), not 运作. Also keep both syllables in the fourth tone, yùnzuò, and do not confuse it with 运动 (yùndòng), which means exercise or a movement.
运作 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
运 yùn · to move · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
作 zuò · to do · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 运作.
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; (of a machine) to operate |
| 动作 | dòngzuò | movement; motion; action; to act; to move |
| 运动 | yùndòng | to move; to exercise |
| 作用 | zuòyòng | to act on; to affect; action; function; activity |
| 作家 | zuòjiā | author |
| 作业 | zuòyè | school assignment; homework |
| 叫作 | jiàozuò | to call; to be called |
| 作文 | zuòwén | to write an essay; composition (student essay) |
| 幸运 | xìngyùn | fortunate; lucky; good fortune; luck |
| 合作 | hézuò | to cooperate; to collaborate; to work together |
| 命运 | mìngyùn | fate; destiny |
| 作品 | zuòpǐn | work (of art); opus |
Questions about 运作
What does 运作 mean?
运作 (yùnzuò) means "to operate; operations" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 运作?
运作 is made of 2 characters: 运 (7 strokes), 作 (7 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 运作 an HSK word?
Yes. 运作 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 运作 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 运作 is written 運作.
What is the difference between 运作 and 运行?
运行 (yùnxíng) stresses something running along its course, like a machine, a train, or a program. 运作 stresses how an organization or system functions and is managed as a whole. For example, you say 地铁运行 for the subway running and 公司运作 for a company's operations.
Can 运作 have a negative meaning?
Yes. In some contexts 运作 can mean maneuvering behind the scenes to get a result, such as pulling strings. A phrase like 暗中运作 (ànzhōng yùnzuò) suggests secret maneuvering, so pay attention to context.