作

• Reading: さく
• Romaji: saku
• Kanji breakdown: 作 (saku/sa) — make, create, work, harvest
• Pronunciation: /sa.kɯ/

Meaning

A work; a production; a harvest; a crop. A creative piece or agricultural yield.

A noun and suffix with two main uses. For creative works: 最新作 (saishinnsaku, latest work), 名作 (meisaku, masterpiece), 彼の作 (his work). For agriculture: 豊作 (housaku, good harvest), 不作 (fusaku, poor harvest). Also used as a suffix for numbering sequels: 第三作 (daisansaku, third installment).

Examples

1. あの監督の最新作を映画館で見た。 Last year's winter was very cold.
2. 今年は米が豊作だったそうだ。 I couldn't sleep well last night.
3. このシリーズの第一作が一番面白い。 Something important was decided at yesterday's meeting.

Usage Guide

Context: arts, film, agriculture

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 作 combines 亻 (person radical) and 乍 (suddenly/while doing), depicting a person making or creating something. The agricultural meaning developed from the idea of cultivating and producing crops.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal