Meaning of 写作
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to write
- to compose
- writing
- written works
How to use 写作
写作 usually means writing as a skill or activity, such as essays, articles, or creative work, rather than just putting down a few characters. It often appears as a noun, as in 写作课 (writing class) or 写作能力 (writing ability). Example: 她每天晚上都练习写作。(Tā měitiān wǎnshang dōu liànxí xiězuò.) She practices writing every evening.
写作 (xiězuò) joins 写 (xiě), to write, with 作 (zuò), to make or do, the same 作 found in 作家 (zuòjiā), author. So 写作 is writing as making something: you write to create a piece of work.
Common mistake: Learners use 写作 for simple acts like writing a name or a phone number. For those, use 写 (xiě) alone, as in 写名字 (xiě míngzi). Also, 作 (zuò) and 做 (zuò) sound the same, but 写作 always uses 作.
写作 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
写 xiě · to write · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
作 zuò · to do · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 写作.
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; (of a machine) to operate |
| 动作 | dòngzuò | movement; motion; action; to act; to move |
| 听写 | tīngxiě | (of a pupil) to write down (in a dictation exercise); dictation; (music) to transcribe by |
| 作用 | zuòyòng | to act on; to affect; action; function; activity |
| 作家 | zuòjiā | author |
| 作业 | zuòyè | school assignment; homework |
| 叫作 | jiàozuò | to call; to be called |
| 作文 | zuòwén | to write an essay; composition (student essay) |
| 合作 | hézuò | to cooperate; to collaborate; to work together |
| 作品 | zuòpǐn | work (of art); opus |
| 制作 | zhìzuò | to make; to manufacture |
| 作者 | zuòzhě | author; writer |
Questions about 写作
What does 写作 mean?
写作 (xiězuò) means "to write; to compose" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 写作?
写作 is made of 2 characters: 写 (5 strokes), 作 (7 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 写作 an HSK word?
Yes. 写作 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 写作 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 写作 is written 寫作.
Can 写作 take a direct object like 写作一本书?
Usually not. 写作 works best on its own or as a noun. To name what you write, use 写, as in 写一本书 (xiě yì běn shū), write a book.
What is the difference between 写作 and 作文?
作文 (zuòwén) is a composition or essay, especially one written as a school task. 写作 is the broader activity or skill of writing.