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写作 (xiě zuò) — to write (literary works, compositions); to compose

Definition

写作 is the general activity of writing — especially literary works or compositions — broader than 写 (just the act of writing) and more formal than 写. Compare 作文 (a student essay) and 撰写 (formal, for documents).

verb
to write (literary works, compositions)to compose

Examples

  • 写作。
    Tā xǐ huan zài wǎn shàng xiě zuò.
    He likes to write at night.
  • 写作。
    Wǒ zhèng zài xiě zuò yì běn xiǎo shuō.
    I am writing a novel.
  • 写作。
    xiě zuò Néng bāng zhù rén men biǎo dá sī xiǎng.
    Writing can help people express thoughts.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

写xiěwrite
作zuòcompose

写 means to write and 作 means to compose or create, so together they denote the activity of writing.

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 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
舄
舄xì寫xiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Open 写 →

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 →
Appears in
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