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撰稿人 (zhuàn gǎo rén) — author, drafter (of a manuscript)

Definition

Literally 'person who writes the manuscript,' used for someone who writes articles or reports for a publication. Broader than just 'author' — covers journalists, columnists, and freelance contributors.

noun
authordrafter (of a manuscript)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 撰稿人。
    Tā shì yí wèi zhù míng de zhuàn gǎo rén.
    He is a famous author.
  • 撰稿人。
    Zhè piān bào dào de zhuàn gǎo rén shì wǒ de tóng shì.
    The author of this report is my colleague.
  • 撰稿人。
    Zá zhì shè xū yào zhāo pìn yì míng jiān zhí zhuàn gǎo rén.
    The magazine needs to hire a part-time contributor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

撰稿draft a manuscript
撰zhuàncompose稿gǎomanuscript
动宾Verb + object
人rénperson

'撰稿' means to draft a manuscript and '人' is a person; together they mean someone who writes drafts.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巽
巽xùn撰zhuàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

撰 pairs 扌 (hand) with 巽, which gives the sound; the hand part relates to the meaning.

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
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
高
高gāo稿
Same sound today

稿 is built from 禾, which carries the meaning, and 高, which supplies the pronunciation.

Open 稿 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →
Appears in
Professions & JobsReading & Writing

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