寡作

• Reading: かさく
• Romaji: kasaku
• Kanji breakdown: 寡 (ka) — few, scarce, alone; 作 (saku/tsuku) — work, creation
• Pronunciation: /ka.sa.kɯ/

Meaning

Producing few works; rare creative output. Said of an author or artist known for a small body of work.

A formal noun used in literary and artistic criticism to describe creators who release very little work over their career, often due to perfectionism, illness, or meticulous standards. 寡作 sometimes carries an air of reverence, as 寡作 writers are often considered to value quality above quantity. Its antonym is 多作 (prolific output).

Examples

1. その作家は寡作で知られ、生涯に三冊しか書かなかった。 That author is known for a small body of work, having written only three books in a lifetime.
2. 寡作ゆえに一作一作の重みが増す。 Because of the sparse output, each individual work carries greater weight.
3. 寡作な詩人の遺稿集が没後に出版された。 A posthumous collection of unpublished works by the rarely publishing poet was released after his death.

Usage Guide

Context: literary criticism, art criticism, biography

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

From 寡 (few, scarce, alone) and 作 (work, creation). Together they describe a creator whose output is sparse or infrequent.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Scholarly