<p>My impression as a learner is that 弄 functions as a <strong><em>unspecified verb</em></strong>.  Basically, we take a sentence and replace a specific verb (or multiple verbs) by the unspecific 弄.</p>

<p>弄 is typically used within a <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complements" rel="nofollow noreferrer">result complement</a> such as <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%88%B0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">弄到</a>, <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">弄坏</a>, <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B8%A2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">弄丢</a>, <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E6%B8%85%E6%A5%9A" rel="nofollow noreferrer">弄清楚</a>, and so on.  I'll focus on this common usage.  In this way 弄 offers a short-cut to the result without specifying the verb which caused it.  (It's also used in <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%BE%97%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88%E6%A0%B7" rel="nofollow noreferrer">弄得怎么样</a> and <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88%E5%BC%84" rel="nofollow noreferrer">怎么弄</a>.)</p>

<p>In English, an unspecified verb would normally be phrased "to do", which is sometimes an appropriate translation.  We'd use it in English in the phrase "get my hair done" in place of "get my hair cut", "get my hair dyed", etc.</p>

<p><strong><em>Why do this?</em></strong>  This is probably an incomplete list but here's some reasons...</p>

<h2>1. Ignorance of which verb is correct</h2>

<p>Let's start with this example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>客人<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E6%89%93%E5%9D%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">打坏</a>电视机<sup><a href="http://www.110.com/ask/question-10184381.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  The guest broke [<em>by bashing</em>] the TV</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In Chinese, the verb is <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E6%89%93" rel="nofollow noreferrer">打</a> = "hit" and the result is <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%9D%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer">坏</a> = "break".</p>

<p>Now suppose we didn't know how the guest broke the TV, only that they broke the TV.  Maybe they spilled a drink on the TV.  Maybe they installed some software on it that broke it.  Since we don't know what verb to use, we might use the unspecific 弄:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>version 1</em>: 客人<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>坏</a>了电视机<br>
  <em>version 2</em>: 客人把电视机<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>坏</a>了<sup><a href="http://www.110.com/ask/question-14521856.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  The guest broke [<em>in some unknown way</em>] the TV</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>Note</em>: It's common to use 把 in conjunction with 弄 as above (see: <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22ba%22_sentences" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Using "ba" sentences</a>).</p>

<p>Other examples:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>男子<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B8%A2" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>丢</a>共享单车被索赔2.55万<sup><a href="http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1643613818793031234&amp;wfr=spider&amp;for=pc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  Boy lost [<em>in some unknown way</em>] a public bike; asked for 25,500 yuan in compensation</p>
  
  <p>小孩不慎弄瞎他人眼睛<sup><a href="http://3g.163.com/news/article/F0NHB6170514CFJG.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  Kid inattentively blinded [<em>in some unknown way</em>] another person's eyes</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>2. Multiple ways of doing something</h2>

<p>This is similar to how "done" is used in "get your hair done" in English.  If you go to a hairdresser, they don't immediately know what verb is appropriate for your hair.  Maybe "dye" or "cut" or some other verb applies.  Maybe multiple verbs are needed (e.g. the customer wants their hair both cut and dyed).  For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>怎么<strong>弄</strong>头发好看又简单图片<sup><a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1732273118484042107.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  How to do hair, both good looking and simple: photos</p>
  
  <p>破案了!韦世豪为何要弄这样的新发型?<sup><a href="https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1637112449375642058&amp;wfr=spider&amp;for=pc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  Solved! Why Wei Shihao wants to do this kind of new hairstyle.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Other examples are:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>怎么才能<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E6%B8%85%E6%A5%9A" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>清楚</a>自己想要什么?<sup><a href="http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1652155365830873873&amp;wfr=spider&amp;for=pc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  How to be able to make clear [<em>in some way</em>] what you want?</p>
  
  <p>离职时,一定要<strong>弄</strong>明白这四点,不然只会越跳槽越糟糕<sup><a href="https://new.qq.com/omn/20191218/20191218A0DJC400.html#p=1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  When leaving office, [you] must understand [<em>in some way</em>] these four points, or else it will result in more job-hopping and more bad luck</p>
</blockquote>

<p>We "make something clear" or "understand" = "make something understood (to yourself)", but there's not a singly way of achieving this.</p>

<h2>3. To encompass all possibly ways of doing something</h2>

<p>Let's start here:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>别把衣服洗坏了<br>
  Don't damage your clothes by washing them.</p>
  
  <p>别把衣服穿坏了<br>
  Don't damage your clothes by wearing them out.</p>
  
  <p>别把衣服剪坏了<br>
  Don't damage your clothes by cutting them.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>We can say all of these (and more) at once using:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>别把衣服<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>坏</a>了<br>
  Don't damage [<em>in any way</em>] your clothes.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Other examples:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>在这个球馆打我的最后一场比赛，你们别把我<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%93%AD" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>哭</a>，因为我现在很高兴。<sup><a href="https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1630416347189178317&amp;wfr=spider&amp;for=pc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  In this stadium, I played my last match, don't make me cry [<em>in any way</em>], because I am now happy</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>4. To withhold this information</h2>

<blockquote>
  <p>沙溢把郭敬明弄哭了！<sup><a href="http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1645793165493793028&amp;wfr=spider&amp;for=pc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  Sha Yi made [<em>in some unspecified way</em>] Guo Jingmeng cry</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You need to read the article to understand how Sha Yi made Guo Jingmeng cry.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你已经<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B9%B1" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>乱</a>我的心，什么时候<a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B9%B1" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>弄</strong>乱</a>我的床<sup><a href="https://new.qq.com/omn/20190327/20190327A0M3CL.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  You've already messed up [<em>in some unspecified way</em>] my heart, when will you mess up [<em>in some unspecified way</em>] my bed?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Cheeky!</p>

<hr>

<p>So let's try it on the given examples:</p>

<ol>
<li><blockquote>
  <p>Don't make the child cry.<br>
  别把孩子<strong>弄</strong>哭了</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I found this <a href="http://www.fun.tv/vplay/v-29622119/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">used here</a>.</p></li>
<li><blockquote>
  <p>Loosen the belt.<br>
  把腰带<strong>弄</strong>宽松一些</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The closest I found online is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>新买的t恤袖子有点紧怎么<strong>弄</strong>宽松一点<sup><a href="https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1820000457042300788.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">[src]</a></sup><br>
  Newly-bought T-shirt sleeves are a little tight, how to loosen them?</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><blockquote>
  <p>There is one more problem that has yet to be clarified.<br>
  还有一个问题没有<strong>弄</strong>清楚</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I found this <a href="https://iask.sina.com.cn/b/1SXMMSBA608V.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">used here</a>.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-20T06:48:22.667Z
2019-12-20T06:48:22.667Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>弄，搞，做 have similar meanings. It is hard to memorize which one to use in all cases.  And in many situations, these words can have meanings which might not be listed in the dictionary.  </p>

<p>Basically, 弄 means an action.  You can treat it as "make something/somebody + adjective" structure.  The correct action (example: 弄伤=make sb. injured=injure sb.=伤害) can be inferred from the context in most cases.  弄 is more similar to 搞 than 做.</p>

<p>As a native speaker, I suggest you directly memorize the usual combination of 弄, 搞, 做 with other words to save your time. (You could search the web to see which expression is the most accepted one)</p>

<p>And in some cases, these three words have different meanings when you exchange one for another in a phrase.
For example, “搞事情” means doing something (possibly illegal/destructive/chaotic), but "做事情" means doing something (constructive, positive).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T12:34:58.180Z
The meaning of 弄 搞 also changes with region. In North China, people tends to say 弄 and in the south people say 搞.
Harry Summer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-04T12:48:24.667Z
2017-11-04T12:48:24.667Z
Aria Ax
<p>弄 could mean: make, manage to do.</p>

<p>Don't make the child cry: 别把小孩弄哭了.</p>

<p>Loosen the belt: 把腰带弄松.</p>

<p>There is one more problem that has yet to be clarified: 还有一个问题尚有待于弄清楚. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-13T15:34:14.727Z
this doesn't help the OP very much. it's more like you are doing her homework
blackgreen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-13T23:08:21.490Z
@TXV First, I explained the meaning of 弄. Secondly, OP says " I don't know how to use it in the sentences above. " and I show him how to put it in those sentences. If you still feel that's not helpful, I might not know what would be more helpful then.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-04T12:33:00.300Z
2017-11-04T12:33:00.300Z
dan
<p>On some of my Chinese school worksheets, we're supposed to use &quot;弄&quot; in the following sentences:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Don't make the child cry.</p>
<p>Loosen the belt.</p>
<p>There is one more problem that has yet to be clarified.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I've researched it and I understand it means 做, but I don't know how to use it in the sentences above.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-04T16:19:03.350Z
cf。https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/12290/differences-%e5%b9%b2-%e5%8a%9e-%e5%81%9a-%e6%90%9e-%e5%bc%84  esp. see 2nd answer (copied from ＂汉语动词３８０例） differences among 干／搞／弄
user6065
<usage><verbs>
How to use 弄 in a sentence?
# How to use 弄 in a sentence?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-04)

On some of my Chinese school worksheets, we're supposed to use "弄" in the following sentences:

> Don't make the child cry.
>
> Loosen the belt.
>
> There is one more problem that has yet to be clarified.

I've researched it and I understand it means 做, but I don't know how to use it in the sentences above.

**Tags:** usage, verbs

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: cf。https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/12290/differences-%e5%b9%b2-%e5%8a%9e-%e5%81%9a-%e6%90%9e-%e5%bc%84  esp. see 2nd answer (copied from ＂汉语动词３８０例） differences among 干／搞／弄  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-12-20. Score: 4

My impression as a learner is that 弄 functions as a ***unspecified verb***. Basically, we take a sentence and replace a specific verb (or multiple verbs) by the unspecific 弄.

弄 is typically used within a [result complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complements) such as [弄到](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%88%B0), [弄坏](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F), [弄丢](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B8%A2), [弄清楚](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E6%B8%85%E6%A5%9A), and so on. I'll focus on this common usage. In this way 弄 offers a short-cut to the result without specifying the verb which caused it. (It's also used in [弄得怎么样](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%BE%97%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88%E6%A0%B7) and [怎么弄](http://youdao.com/w/%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88%E5%BC%84).)

In English, an unspecified verb would normally be phrased "to do", which is sometimes an appropriate translation. We'd use it in English in the phrase "get my hair done" in place of "get my hair cut", "get my hair dyed", etc.

***Why do this?*** This is probably an incomplete list but here's some reasons...

## 1. Ignorance of which verb is correct

Let's start with this example:

> 客人[打坏](http://youdao.com/w/%E6%89%93%E5%9D%8F)电视机[[src]](http://www.110.com/ask/question-10184381.html)  
> The guest broke [*by bashing*] the TV

In Chinese, the verb is [打](http://youdao.com/w/%E6%89%93) = "hit" and the result is [坏](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%9D%8F) = "break".

Now suppose we didn't know how the guest broke the TV, only that they broke the TV. Maybe they spilled a drink on the TV. Maybe they installed some software on it that broke it. Since we don't know what verb to use, we might use the unspecific 弄:

> *version 1*: 客人[**弄**坏](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F)了电视机  
> *version 2*: 客人把电视机[**弄**坏](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F)了[[src]](http://www.110.com/ask/question-14521856.html)  
> The guest broke [*in some unknown way*] the TV

*Note*: It's common to use 把 in conjunction with 弄 as above (see: [Using "ba" sentences](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22ba%22_sentences)).

Other examples:

> 男子[**弄**丢](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B8%A2)共享单车被索赔2.55万[[src]](http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1643613818793031234&wfr=spider&for=pc)  
> Boy lost [*in some unknown way*] a public bike; asked for 25,500 yuan in compensation
>
> 小孩不慎弄瞎他人眼睛[[src]](http://3g.163.com/news/article/F0NHB6170514CFJG.html)  
> Kid inattentively blinded [*in some unknown way*] another person's eyes

## 2. Multiple ways of doing something

This is similar to how "done" is used in "get your hair done" in English. If you go to a hairdresser, they don't immediately know what verb is appropriate for your hair. Maybe "dye" or "cut" or some other verb applies. Maybe multiple verbs are needed (e.g. the customer wants their hair both cut and dyed). For example:

> 怎么**弄**头发好看又简单图片[[src]](https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1732273118484042107.html)  
> How to do hair, both good looking and simple: photos
>
> 破案了!韦世豪为何要弄这样的新发型?[[src]](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1637112449375642058&wfr=spider&for=pc)  
> Solved! Why Wei Shihao wants to do this kind of new hairstyle.

Other examples are:

> 怎么才能[**弄**清楚](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E6%B8%85%E6%A5%9A)自己想要什么?[[src]](http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1652155365830873873&wfr=spider&for=pc)  
> How to be able to make clear [*in some way*] what you want?
>
> 离职时,一定要**弄**明白这四点,不然只会越跳槽越糟糕[[src]](https://new.qq.com/omn/20191218/20191218A0DJC400.html#p=1)  
> When leaving office, [you] must understand [*in some way*] these four points, or else it will result in more job-hopping and more bad luck

We "make something clear" or "understand" = "make something understood (to yourself)", but there's not a singly way of achieving this.

## 3. To encompass all possibly ways of doing something

Let's start here:

> 别把衣服洗坏了  
> Don't damage your clothes by washing them.
>
> 别把衣服穿坏了  
> Don't damage your clothes by wearing them out.
>
> 别把衣服剪坏了  
> Don't damage your clothes by cutting them.

We can say all of these (and more) at once using:

> 别把衣服[**弄**坏](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%9D%8F)了  
> Don't damage [*in any way*] your clothes.

Other examples:

> 在这个球馆打我的最后一场比赛，你们别把我[**弄**哭](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E5%93%AD)，因为我现在很高兴。[[src]](https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1630416347189178317&wfr=spider&for=pc)  
> In this stadium, I played my last match, don't make me cry [*in any way*], because I am now happy

## 4. To withhold this information

> 沙溢把郭敬明弄哭了！[[src]](http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1645793165493793028&wfr=spider&for=pc)  
> Sha Yi made [*in some unspecified way*] Guo Jingmeng cry

You need to read the article to understand how Sha Yi made Guo Jingmeng cry.

> 你已经[**弄**乱](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B9%B1)我的心，什么时候[**弄**乱](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%BC%84%E4%B9%B1)我的床[[src]](https://new.qq.com/omn/20190327/20190327A0M3CL.html)  
> You've already messed up [*in some unspecified way*] my heart, when will you mess up [*in some unspecified way*] my bed?

Cheeky!

---

So let's try it on the given examples:

1. > Don't make the child cry.  
   > 别把孩子**弄**哭了

   I found this [used here](http://www.fun.tv/vplay/v-29622119/).
2. > Loosen the belt.  
   > 把腰带**弄**宽松一些

   The closest I found online is:

   > 新买的t恤袖子有点紧怎么**弄**宽松一点[[src]](https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/1820000457042300788.html)  
   > Newly-bought T-shirt sleeves are a little tight, how to loosen them?
3. > There is one more problem that has yet to be clarified.  
   > 还有一个问题没有**弄**清楚

   I found this [used here](https://iask.sina.com.cn/b/1SXMMSBA608V.html).


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-11-04. Score: 3

弄，搞，做 have similar meanings. It is hard to memorize which one to use in all cases. And in many situations, these words can have meanings which might not be listed in the dictionary.

Basically, 弄 means an action. You can treat it as "make something/somebody + adjective" structure. The correct action (example: 弄伤=make sb. injured=injure sb.=伤害) can be inferred from the context in most cases. 弄 is more similar to 搞 than 做.

As a native speaker, I suggest you directly memorize the usual combination of 弄, 搞, 做 with other words to save your time. (You could search the web to see which expression is the most accepted one)

And in some cases, these three words have different meanings when you exchange one for another in a phrase.
For example, “搞事情” means doing something (possibly illegal/destructive/chaotic), but "做事情" means doing something (constructive, positive).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: The meaning of 弄 搞 also changes with region. In North China, people tends to say 弄 and in the south people say 搞.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-11-04. Score: 0

弄 could mean: make, manage to do.

Don't make the child cry: 别把小孩弄哭了.

Loosen the belt: 把腰带弄松.

There is one more problem that has yet to be clarified: 还有一个问题尚有待于弄清楚.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: this doesn't help the OP very much. it's more like you are doing her homework  
> **username_5**: @TXV First, I explained the meaning of 弄. Secondly, OP says " I don't know how to use it in the sentences above. " and I show him how to put it in those sentences. If you still feel that's not helpful, I might not know what would be more helpful then.  

---

