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创作 (chuàng zuò) — to create, to produce, to write (artistic or literary works); creative work, creation

Definition

创作 (verb and noun) is used for artistic or literary works — writing a novel, composing a poem. 写 is everyday 'write'; 创造 is broader 'create, bring into being' (inventions, records, not just art).

to createto produceto write (artistic or literary works)creative workcreation
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 创作。
    Tā chuàng zuò le yí bù xiǎo shuō.
    He created a novel.
  • 创作。
    Tā zhèng zài chuàng zuò yì shǒu shī.
    She is writing a poem.
  • 创作。
    Zhè shì yí gè xīn de chuàng zuò.
    This is a new creation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

创chuàngcreate
作zuòmake

创 means create and 作 means make or write; together they cover producing artistic or literary work.

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 創; 创 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
倉
倉cāng創chuàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 創 pairs 倉 with 刀 (knife) to write 'wound', and 倉 gives the pronunciation. The simplified 创 is a later shorthand.

Open 创 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 6Art & Fine Arts5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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