多作

• Reading: たさく
• Romaji: tasaku
• Kanji breakdown: 多 (ta/ō) — many, much; 作 (saku/tsukuru) — work, to create
• Pronunciation: /ta.sa.kɯ/

Meaning

Prolific; producing many works. Describes a creator who generates a large output of literary, artistic, or musical works.

Used as a noun and na-adjective (多作な). While 多作 is sometimes used admiringly, it can also carry a slight implication of quantity over quality, depending on context. The opposite is 寡作 (kasaku — producing few works). Often used in literary criticism and biographical writing.

Examples

1. 芥川龍之介は多作で知られ、短い生涯に多くの傑作を残した。 Ryunosuke Akutagawa was known for being prolific, leaving behind many masterpieces in his short life.
2. あの画家は多作だが、すべての作品に独自のスタイルが貫かれている。 That painter is prolific, yet a distinctive style runs through every one of his works.
3. 多作な作家であっても、質を保ち続けることは容易ではない。 Even for a prolific writer, maintaining quality is no easy task.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, art criticism, biography, music

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 多 (many, much) and 作 (work, to create). A straightforward descriptive compound used since the Meiji period in literary and artistic criticism.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal