various trades and occupations; all walks of life
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
various trades and occupations; all kinds of industries and crafts; people of all walks of life
Originally referred to specific traditional trade classifications (five trades and eight workshops), now used broadly to mean all types of occupations. Note: '作' here derives from '作坊' (zuō fang, workshop), though pronounced 'zuò' in this idiom.
Zhè这
zuò座
chéng城
shì市
lǐ里
wǔ五
háng行
bā八
zuò作
，
shén什
me么
rén人
dōu都
yǒu有
。
This city has people from all walks of life and every kind of trade.
Jiù旧
shí时
de的
Běi北
jīng京
chéng城
，
wǔ五
háng行
bā八
zuò作
yún云
jí集
，
rè热
nao闹
fēi非
fán凡
。
In old Beijing, various trades and crafts gathered, making it extremely lively.
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Tā他
nián年
qīng轻
shí时
zuò做
guo过
wǔ五
háng行
bā八
zuò作
，
zuì最
hòu后
xuǎn选
zé择
le了
jīng经
shāng商
。
He worked in all sorts of trades when he was young, and finally chose to go into business.