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作者 (zuò zhě) — author, writer

Definition

作者 is the neutral, all-purpose word for 'author' of a specific book or text. 作家 sounds more elevated, like calling someone a 'writer' by profession or title.

noun
authorwriter
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 作者。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zhè wèi zuò zhě de shū.
    I like this author's books.
  • 作者。
    Zhè piān zuò zhě de xiǎo shuō xiě dé hěn hǎo.
    This author's novel is written very well.
  • 作者？
    Nǐ dú guò zhè wèi zuò zhě de nǎ běn shū?
    Which book by this author have you read?

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

作zuòwrite
者zhěsuffix: person

作 means to write, and 者 marks the person doing it, so 作者 is the one who writes.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 者 originally drew a sugarcane with full stems, small points around it, and an open smiling mouth at the bottom.

Open 者 →
Appears in
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