著作 (zhù zuò) — literary work, writing(s), book

Definition

著作 refers to a single authored book or literary work, usually bound and substantial — more formal and weighty than 文章 (an article or essay) or 作品 (a piece, often art). Pair it with the measure word 部.

noun
literary workwriting(s)book
Measure word · 部

Examples

  • 著作。
    Zhè bù zhù zuò chū bǎn yú shàng ge shì jì.
    This literary work was published in the last century.
  • 著作。
    Tú shū guǎn shōu cáng le tā de quán bù zhù zuò.
    The library has collected all of his writings.
  • 著作。
    Tā de zhù zuò yǐng xiǎng le jǐ dài rén.
    His works have influenced several generations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

著zhùwrite
作zuòcompose

著 and 作 both mean to write or compose.

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
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě著zhù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

著 pairs 艸 (grass or plants) with 者 as the sound part.

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 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Literature & PoetryReading & Writing

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