<p>In my opinion, 是 expresses a <strong>state</strong> 一种状态 and it's used to state a <strong>fact</strong>，while 做/当 denotes an <strong>act</strong> 一种动作, meaning 充当，担任.  For example, 我是老师 clarified the fact you are a teacher, while 我做/当老师 denotes you want to act as a teacher even if sometimes it's not really your job. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-07T06:40:46.233Z
2018-04-07T06:40:46.233Z
dan
<p>I know 做/当 in some contexts may mean "to be", as in:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>他现在<strong>做</strong>老师了。 He <strong>is</strong> a teacher now.  </li>
  <li>她愿意<strong>做</strong>我女朋友。 She accepted <strong>to be</strong> my girlfriend.  </li>
  <li>我毕业后想<strong>做</strong>经理。 After I graduate I want <strong>to be</strong> a manager.</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>I have a hard time explaining to my students when they have to use 做/当 and can't use 是. Any ideas?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-06T14:59:43.757Z
願意/想 (*want to*) should be used with 做/當 (*become*). Note that there isn't anything particularly wrong with saying "他現在是老師了", and you can also say something like "她現在是我女朋友".
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-06T15:26:30.720Z
作 may be used instead of 做: bkrs：作，（充当; 担任） act as; be; become:
我来作翻译。 I'll act as interpreter.
人民当家作主人。 The people are the masters of their country
user6065
<grammar><word-choice><usage>
When do I have to use 做/当 instead of 是?
# When do I have to use 做/当 instead of 是?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-06)

I know 做/当 in some contexts may mean "to be", as in:

> * 他现在**做**老师了。 He **is** a teacher now.
> * 她愿意**做**我女朋友。 She accepted **to be** my girlfriend.
> * 我毕业后想**做**经理。 After I graduate I want **to be** a manager.

I have a hard time explaining to my students when they have to use 做/当 and can't use 是. Any ideas?

**Tags:** grammar, word-choice, usage

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 願意/想 (*want to*) should be used with 做/當 (*become*). Note that there isn't anything particularly wrong with saying "他現在是老師了", and you can also say something like "她現在是我女朋友".  
> **username_2**: 作 may be used instead of 做: bkrs：作，（充当; 担任） act as; be; become: 我来作翻译。 I'll act as interpreter. 人民当家作主人。 The people are the masters of their country  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-04-07. Score: 3

In my opinion, 是 expresses a **state** 一种状态 and it's used to state a **fact**，while 做/当 denotes an **act** 一种动作, meaning 充当，担任. For example, 我是老师 clarified the fact you are a teacher, while 我做/当老师 denotes you want to act as a teacher even if sometimes it's not really your job.


---

