verb HSK 5
Traditional 創造
chuàng zào
to create · to bring into being · to produce · creation

Meaning

创造 means to create something that did not exist before, to bring something new into being through imagination, skill, or effort. It emphasizes the originality and innovation in making something, whether tangible (like art or products) or intangible (like ideas or opportunities). This word carries a sense of purposeful generation rather than simple making.

Usage

创造 is commonly used in formal and semi-formal contexts to describe creative acts, innovation, and generation of new things. It frequently appears in discussions about art, science, business, and personal achievement. Native speakers often use it when emphasizing the innovative or original aspect of making something, distinguishing it from routine production (生产).

Examples

  1. 01
    艺术家用想象力创造出美丽的作品。
    shù jiā yòng xiǎng xiàng chuàng zào chū měi de zuò pǐn.
    Artists use imagination to create beautiful works.
  2. 02
    我们要为年轻人创造更多就业机会。
    men yào wèi nián qīng rén chuàng zào gèng duō jiù huì.
    We need to create more job opportunities for young people.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 创造机会
    chuàng zào huì
    to create opportunities
  • 创造条件
    chuàng zào tiáo jiàn
    to create conditions
  • 创造奇迹
    chuàng zào
    to create a miracle
  • 创造
    chuàng zào
    creativity

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters relate to making: 创 originally depicted a wound or cut (suggesting breaking new ground), while 造 combines movement and announcement, implying deliberate construction.

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