No zuo no die: a meme with Chinese moral rhythm
Some bilingual memes do not translate a word because the untranslated word carries too much attitude. Zuo is one of those words.
Why zuo stays Chinese
Zuo suggests unnecessary drama, self-inflicted trouble, attention-seeking, or pushing a situation too far. No single English verb carries the same compact social judgment.
Keeping zuo in the phrase turns Chinglish into a cultural container, not just broken English.