Chinese word

作文

Pronunciation

Pinyinzuò wén

Meaning

  • nouncomposition

Example

老师让我们写作文。lǎo shī ràng wǒ men xiě zuò wén

The teacher has us write a composition.

Illustration for 作文 (composition)

More examples

我在家每天修改作文，希望写得更好。wǒ zài jiā měi tiān xiū gǎi zuò wén xī wàng xiě de gèng hǎo

I revise my composition at home every day, hoping to write better.

Core concept

A small written work that gathers ideas into a clear whole, usually made for a school prompt or test.

Common phrases

  • 写一篇作文xiě yì piān zuò wén

    write a composition

  • 修改作文xiū gǎi zuò wén

    revise a composition

  • 交作文jiāo zuò wén

    hand in a composition

Similar words

文章wén zhāng: A complete written passage that presents and arranges ideas or information.
作业zuò yè: Schoolwork that a teacher gives students to do.
课文kè wén: A fixed textbook passage used for study during a lesson.
日记rì jì: A personal record of everyday experiences and feelings.

Definition in Chinese

学生在课堂或考试中根据提示，用文字组织语言、表达思想的短篇作品，也可泛指练习写作的篇幅较短的文章。xué shēng zài kè táng huò kǎo shì zhōng gēn jù tí shì yòng wén zì zǔ zhī yǔ yán biǎo dá sī xiǎng de duǎn piān zuò pǐn yě kě fàn zhǐ liàn xí xiě zuò de piān fú jiào duǎn de wén zhāng

Word origin

作文 (zuòwén, "composition") combines 作 (zuò, "make") and 文 (wén, "written language"), linking the act of making with a piece of writing.

Usage tips

  • English composition can also mean a piece of music, but 作文 (zuòwén, "composition") in school Chinese means a student's written work.

Other meanings

  • short essaynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 作文题目zuò wén tí mùcomposition topicnoun
  • 作文比赛zuò wén bǐ sàicomposition contestnoun

Word lists with this word