作家

• Pinyin: zuò jiā
• Hanzi breakdown: 作 = 亻 (person radical) + 乍 (suddenly, phonetic); 家 = 宀 (roof) + 豕 (pig), originally meaning 'household'

Meaning

Writer; author. A person who writes books or other literary works as a profession.

Refers specifically to someone who writes as their main occupation or calling, typically of novels, essays, or other literary works. More prestigious than simply saying someone who writes. Distinguished from 记者 (journalist) and 诗人 (poet).

Examples

1. 她长大以后想当一个作家。 She wants to become a writer when she grows up.
2. 这本书的作家很有名。 The author of this book is very famous.
3. 那个作家写了很多好看的故事。 That writer has written many great stories.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, career, everyday

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 他是一位很有名的作家。(He is a very famous writer.)
• 我最喜欢的作家是鲁迅。(My favourite writer is Lu Xun.)

Don't Say

• 他是一个写作家。(Don't add 写 before 作家 — 作家 already means writer. Just say 他是一个作家.)

Origin & History

Compound of 作 (to make/create) and 家 (specialist/expert), literally 'one who specializes in creating.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal