Meaning
作 is a versatile character meaning 'to do' or 'to make,' often appearing in formal or literary contexts. As a noun, it refers to a work or composition, especially artistic or literary works. It's slightly more formal than 做 (zuò) for everyday 'to do/make,' though they overlap significantly.
Usage
In modern Mandarin, 作 appears frequently in compounds like 作业 (homework), 作文 (essay/composition), and 作者 (author). When used alone as a verb, it's more common in written or formal speech. In casual conversation, 做 is usually preferred for general 'doing/making.' 作 is also used in the pattern 作为 (zuòwéi, 'to serve as').
Examples
- 01他作为公司的代表参加了会议。.He attended the meeting as the company's representative.
- 02这本小说是她最新的作品。.This novel is her latest work.
Common collocations
- 作业homework, assignment
- 作文essay, composition
- 作者author, writer
- 作为as, to act as, to serve as
Origin
The character 作 originally depicted a person (亻) rising or standing up to work. The left radical 亻(person) combined with 乍 (sudden action) suggests the beginning of purposeful action or creation.