little island 做 / 作: how to tell them apart
做 is for doing and making things (做功课, 做饭). 作 appears in words about work and writing (作业, 工作, 作文).
做 zuò — to do, to make
做
| 做 | zuò | to do | 1B lesson 13 |
作 zuò — work; to create
作
| 动作 | dòng zuò | action; movement | 1B lesson 13 | |
| 分工合作 | fēn gōng hé zuò | to divide the work and cooperate | 2A lesson 7 | |
| 作业 | zuò yè | homework | 3B lesson 15 | |
| 以身作则 | yǐ shēn zuò zé | to set an example by one's own conduct | 4A lesson 8 |