How to use 由…做主
Matter / area + 由 + decision-maker + 做主
由…做主 assigns decision-making authority over a matter. The sentence commonly names the issue or area first, then identifies the person whose choice determines what happens. This can describe household arrangements, workplace authority, or a particular decision delegated to someone else. The focus is who gets to decide, which is related to but more specific than simply performing a task.
Put the decision-maker after 由 and keep 做主 as the main predicate. The area can be omitted when the conversation already makes it clear. If the intended meaning is responsibility for carrying out work rather than authority to settle the choice, another predicate such as 负责 may express that relationship more accurately.
Examples with pinyin and English
这次旅行去哪儿，由你做主。
You can decide where we go on this trip.
The opening topic identifies the choice being delegated.
菜单由厨师做主，我们只负责准备食材。
The chef decides the menu; we just prepare the ingredients.
Decision-making authority is distinguished from carrying out a task.
孩子的事情，不能总由父母做主。
Parents cannot always make the decisions about their child's affairs.
The construction identifies whose authority is being limited.
What to remember
- Use 做主 for the authority to decide.
- Name the matter before the 由 phrase when needed.
- Distinguish deciding from carrying out a responsibility.
Practise the pattern
Use one example as a model. Change the people, objects or situation, keeping the grammar pattern in the same order. Read the explanation again to check how your sentence uses the construction.
Look up the grammar words
Source and editorial notes
Explanation and examples written for Laowai using the grammar curriculum as a topic reference. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.