Machen vs. Tun — "Make" vs. "Do" in German
Quick Rule
Are you making/creating something specific? → machen. Is it abstract "doing" or a fixed expression? → tun.
machen vs. tun — The Rules
machen
"Machen" is the general-purpose verb for "make" and "do". It's used in most everyday expressions: Hausaufgaben machen, Essen machen, Fotos machen, sauber machen. It implies creating or producing something.
tun
"Tun" means "to do" in a more general/abstract sense. Used for: "Was tust du?" (What do you do?), "Es tut mir leid" (I'm sorry), "so tun als ob" (pretend). Less specific than machen.
Examples — Side by Side
Ich mache die Hausaufgaben.
I'm doing the homework.
Was tust du gerade?
What are you doing right now?
Sie macht das Frühstück.
She's making breakfast.
Es tut mir leid.
I'm sorry. (It does me sorrow.)
Wir machen einen Spaziergang.
We're taking a walk.
Er tut so, als ob er schläft.
He pretends to be sleeping.
Mach das Licht an!
Turn the light on!
Tu das nicht!
Don't do that!
Common Mistakes
Was machst du? (always wrong)
"Was machst du?" is perfectly fine — it's the most common way to ask "What are you doing?"
Both "Was machst du?" and "Was tust du?" work. "Machen" is actually more common in everyday speech.
Es macht mir leid.
Es tut mir leid.
"Es tut mir leid" is a fixed expression — always "tun", never "machen".
Er macht so, als ob er krank ist.
Er tut so, als ob er krank wäre.
"So tun als ob" (to pretend) is always with "tun".
Memory Trick
"machen" = make (both start with M). "tun" = to do (abstract). In doubt, "machen" usually works.
Quick Quiz
1. Ich ___ gerade das Abendessen.
2. Es ___ mir leid, dass ich zu spät bin.
3. In everyday German, "What are you doing?" is most commonly:
