Definition

1. Verb:
   • To do, to perform an action: "làm" indicates engaging in an activity, carrying out a task, or performing work.
   • To make, to create, to produce: "làm" means to create, construct, or manufacture something that did not exist before.
   • To work, to be employed as: "làm" refers to having a job, performing labor, or working in a specific profession or role.
   • To cause, to make something happen: "làm" functions as a causative verb, meaning to cause a state, condition, or event.
   • To act as, to serve as: "làm" means to function as, to be used as, or to take on the role of something or someone.
   • To hold a ceremony, to perform a ritual: "làm" is used for conducting formal ceremonies or events.

Usage Examples

• To do:

  • Ở đây không có gì làm cả. (There is nothing to do here.)
  • Anh làm gì đấy? (What are you doing?)

• To make, to create:

  • Ghế làm bằng gỗ. (The chair is made of wood.)
  • Làm tờ di chúc. (To make one's will.)
  • Chim làm tổ. (Birds build a nest.)

• To work, to be employed as:

  • Cha tôi làm thầy giáo. (My father is a teacher.)
  • Về quê làm ruộng. (To return to the countryside to work the fields.)

• To cause:

  • Bão làm đổ cây. (The storm caused the trees to fall.)
  • Anh làm cho chị ấy đau khổ. (You caused her pain.)

• To act as, to serve as:

  • Câu chuyện này làm bài học cho chúng ta. (This story serves as a lesson for us.)
  • Trồng cây làm cảnh. (To plant trees as decoration.)

• To hold a ceremony:

  • Làm lễ khánh thành. (To hold an inauguration ceremony.)
  • Làm đám cưới. (To have a wedding.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm ra vẻ" / "làm bộ": to pretend, to act as if.

  • Anh ta làm ra vẻ thông thạo. (He pretended to be knowledgeable.)

• "làm như": to act as if, to pretend that.

  • Cô ấy làm như không quen biết tôi. (She acted as if she didn't know me.)

• "lấy... làm...": to take/consider something as...

  • Lấy đêm làm ngày. (To take the night as day.)

• "chia/tách... làm...": to divide/split something into (a number of parts).

  • Chia làm ba phần. (To divide into three parts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Làm việc (v): to work (at a job/task). This is a compound verb.
• Làm ăn (v): to do business, to make a living.
• Việc làm (n): job, employment.
• Công việc (n): work, task, job.
• Thợ (n): worker, craftsman (e.g., - carpenter, a person who woodwork).

Synonyms

• Thực hiện: to implement, to carry out.
• Tiến hành: to conduct, to proceed with.
• Tạo ra: to create, to generate.
• Gây ra: to cause, to bring about.
• Đóng vai: to play the role of.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs / Verb-Object Constructions)

• Làm ơn: Please (literally "do a favor"). Used to make polite requests.
• Làm quen: To get acquainted, to make friends.
• Làm hại: To harm, to cause damage.
• Làm phiền: To bother, to disturb.
• Làm chủ: To master, to take control of.

Related Idioms

• Tay làm hàm nhai: Literally "hand works, jaw chews." Meaning to live by the sweat of one's brow; to live off one's own labor.
• Nói ít làm nhiều: To speak little but do much; actions speak louder than words.
• Nói là làm: No sooner said than done.
• Làm mưa làm gió: Literally "to make rain, to make wind." Meaning to stir up trouble, to wield great influence (often negative).
• Làm to chuyện: To make a mountain out of a molehill.

verb

1. to dọ
   • ở đây không có gì làm cả
     There is nothing to do here. to make
   • ghế làm bằng gỗ
     the chair is made of wood
   • làm tờ di chúc
     to make one's will
2. to be
   • cha tôi làm thầy giáo
     My father is teacher