着作 (zhù zuò) — literary work, scholarly work, writings

Definition

As a noun, 著作 refers to a finished written work — a book, article, or scholarly publication by an author. Pair with 部 as the measure word (一部著作).

noun

literary workscholarly workwritings

Measure word · 部

。
Zhè běn zhù zuò shì yán jiū zhōng guó gǔ dài wén huà de zhòng yào cān kǎo.
This work is an important reference for the study of ancient Chinese culture.
着作。
Lǔ xùn de zhù zuò zài zhōng guó xiàn dài wén xué shǐ shàng yǐng xiǎng shēn yuǎn.
Lu Xun's writings have had a profound influence on the history of modern Chinese literature.
着作。
Tā yì shēng fā biǎo le duō bù zhòng yào zhù zuò.
He published many important works in his lifetime.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

着zhewrite/compose

作zuòcompose/make

着 and 作 both mean to write or compose, so the sense is written works.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

者zhě著zháo

Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

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

亻乍作

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

乍

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.

Appears in