把…当作 / 看作 / 当成…bǎ... dāngzuò / kànzuò / dāngchéng...

Structure 把…当作 / 看作 / 当成…: Regard... as / Treat... as...

Meaning: Regard or treat N1 as N2

Pattern

The pattern 把 + N1 + 当作/看作/当成 + N2 expresses that the subject views or treats N1 as N2 (a role, relationship, or quality).
Nuances: 当作 ("treat/regard as") is standard and versatile; 看作 ("view/see as") emphasizes cognitive evaluation; 当成 ("treat as / mistake for") is more colloquial.
Because 当作/看作/当成 require an object of disposal before them, the preposition 把 is mandatory (or 被 in the passive: 被当作/被看作).
The element after 当作/看作/当成 must be a noun or nominal phrase, never a bare verb.

1
他把工作当作生活的全部。
Tā bǎ gōngzuò dāngzuò shēnghuó de quánbù.
He regards work as the entirety of his life.
2
我们把汉语老师当成自己的朋友。
Wǒmen bǎ Hànyǔ lǎoshī dāngchéng zìjǐ de péngyou.
We treat our Chinese teacher as our own friend.
3
请不要把我的善意看作软弱。
Qǐng bùyào bǎ wǒ de shànyì kànzuò ruǎnruò.
Please do not view my kindness as weakness.

•Must use 把 to place N1 before the verb; 当作/看作/当成 must be followed by a noun phrase.

⚠️ Common Mistakes:

•Omitting 把 and placing both nouns after 当作 (*我当作他朋友 instead of 我把他当作朋友).

•Placing a verb phrase instead of a noun phrase after 当作/看作.

Combine Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Practice, Listening, Hanzi Writing, and Mock Exams at HSK 5 to master all skills together.