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| 作者 [2025/08/10 02:22] – created xiaoer | 作者 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== zuòzhě: 作者 - Author, Creator ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** 作者, zuòzhě, Chinese for author, author in Chinese, writer in Chinese, creator, book author, article writer, Chinese literature, HSK 4 vocabulary. | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **作者 (zuòzhě)**, the essential Chinese word for "author" or "creator". This guide explores how **作者** is used for writers of books, articles, and even software. Discover the cultural significance of authorship in China, see practical examples, and learn the crucial difference between **作者 (zuòzhě)** and **作家 (zuòjiā)** to avoid common mistakes and master this key term. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zuòzhě | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A person who writes a book, article, or document; an author or creator. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **作者 (zuòzhě)** is the most direct and common word for "author" in Chinese. It specifically refers to the person who created a particular piece of work. The character **者 (zhě)** functions like the English suffix "-er" or "-or," transforming the verb "to make" (**作, zuò**) into the person who does the action—"the maker" or "the author." | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **作 (zuò):** This character means "to make," "to do," "to compose," or "to act." It's the root of creation and action, found in words like [[工作]] (gōngzuò - to work) and [[作业]] (zuòyè - homework). | |
| * **者 (zhě):** This is a versatile particle that indicates a person associated with an action or quality. It functions like adding "-er," "-ist," or "-or" in English. For example, [[记者]] (jìzhě) is a "record-er" (journalist), and [[学者]] (xuézhě) is a "schol-ar." | |
| When combined, **作者 (zuòzhě)** literally translates to "the one who makes/composes," perfectly capturing the meaning of an author. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, there has historically been a profound respect for scholars, writers, and intellectuals (文人, wénrén). They were often seen as the moral and intellectual backbone of society. While modern China is much different, a strong sense of respect for authors and the written word persists. An author is not just a content producer but someone who contributes to the cultural and intellectual landscape. | |
| A useful comparison for learners is the distinction between the English words "author" and "writer," which maps closely to the Chinese terms **作者 (zuòzhě)** and **作家 (zuòjiā)**. | |
| * **Author (作者, zuòzhě):** This term is tied to a **specific creation**. You are the **作者** //of a book//, //of an article//, or //of a piece of software//. It's a role defined by a product. | |
| * **Writer (作家, zuòjiā):** This term refers to a **profession or identity**. It's someone whose main occupation or passion is writing. You can be a **作家** even if you're between projects, but you are only a **作者** in relation to a specific work. | |
| Understanding this distinction is key to speaking more natural Chinese. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **作者** is a neutral and widely used term in both formal and informal contexts. | |
| * **In Literature and Academia:** This is its most common usage. It's used on book covers, in library catalogs, and in literary analysis to identify the creator of a work. | |
| * **In Journalism:** The byline of an article will identify the **作者**. | |
| * **In the Digital Age:** The term has adapted well. The creator of a blog post, a detailed online guide, or even a piece of software can be called the **作者**. For example, "软件作者" (ruǎnjiàn zuòzhě) means "software author/developer." | |
| The formality is neutral. It's simply the correct term for the creator of a work, whether you're discussing a classic novel or a post on social media. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 这本书的**作者**很有名。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè běn shū de **zuòzhě** hěn yǒumíng. | |
| * English: The author of this book is very famous. | |
| * Analysis: A straightforward, common sentence structure used to identify an author. `[Work] 的 作者` is the standard pattern. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 这篇文章的**作者**是我的一位老朋友。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè piān wénzhāng de **zuòzhě** shì wǒ de yí wèi lǎo péngyou. | |
| * English: The author of this article is an old friend of mine. | |
| * Analysis: This shows how **作者** applies to shorter works like articles (文章, wénzhāng). | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 你知道这首诗的**作者**是谁吗？ | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào zhè shǒu shī de **zuòzhě** shì shéi ma? | |
| * English: Do you know who the author of this poem is? | |
| * Analysis: A classic question format. `...的作者是谁？` (...de zuòzhě shì shéi?) means "Who is the author of...?" | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 作为本文**作者**，我想澄清一点。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zuòwéi běn wén **zuòzhě**, wǒ xiǎng chéngqīng yìdiǎn. | |
| * English: As the author of this text, I'd like to clarify one point. | |
| * Analysis: A formal way for a writer to refer to themselves within their own writing. `作为...作者` means "As the author of...". | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 我们终于联系上了那个软件的**作者**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen zhōngyú liánxì shàng le nàge ruǎnjiàn de **zuòzhě**. | |
| * English: We finally got in touch with the creator of that software. | |
| * Analysis: This demonstrates the modern, expanded use of **作者** for non-literary creations like software (软件, ruǎnjiàn). | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这本书有三位**作者**，他们合作得很好。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè běn shū yǒu sān wèi **zuòzhě**, tāmen hézuò de hěn hǎo. | |
| * English: This book has three authors, and they collaborated very well. | |
| * Analysis: Shows the plural usage. The measure word for respected professions like author is often [[位]] (wèi). | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * **作者**在故事的结尾留下了一个悬念。 | |
| * Pinyin: **Zuòzhě** zài gùshì de jiéwěi liúxià le yí ge xuánniàn. | |
| * English: The author left a cliffhanger at the end of the story. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **作者** is used as the subject of the sentence, referring to the author's narrative choices. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 这幅画的**作者**不明。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè fú huà de **zuòzhě** bùmíng. | |
| * English: The creator of this painting is unknown. | |
| * Analysis: "作者不明" (zuòzhě bùmíng) is a common phrase for "author unknown," also used for artists. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * **作者**的意图是什么？ | |
| * Pinyin: **Zuòzhě** de yìtú shì shénme? | |
| * English: What is the author's intention? | |
| * Analysis: A typical question in literary analysis classes. It focuses on the author's purpose or message. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 我给这本书的**作者**发了一封电子邮件。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ gěi zhè běn shū de **zuòzhě** fā le yì fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn. | |
| * English: I sent an email to the author of this book. | |
| * Analysis: A practical sentence demonstrating modern communication with an author. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| The most significant pitfall for English speakers is confusing **作者 (zuòzhě)** with **作家 (zuòjiā)**. They are not interchangeable. | |
| * **作者 (zuòzhě):** The creator of a //specific// work. It's a role. | |
| * **作家 (zuòjiā):** A writer by //profession//. It's an identity or job title. | |
| Think of it this way: **J.K. Rowling is a 作家 (writer). She is the 作者 (author) of the Harry Potter series.** | |
| **Common Mistake Example:** | |
| * **Incorrect:** 他是一位**作者**。 (Tā shì yí wèi **zuòzhě**.) | |
| * **Why it's wrong:** This literally means "He is an author //of something unspecified//." It sounds incomplete and unnatural. You're describing his role without mentioning the work he created. | |
| * **Correct (if he's a professional writer):** 他是一位**作家**。 (Tā shì yí wèi **zuòjiā**.) - "He is a writer." | |
| * **Correct (if referring to his book):** 他是这本书的**作者**。 (Tā shì zhè běn shū de **zuòzhě**.) - "He is the author of this book." | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[作家]] (zuòjiā) - A professional writer. This describes a person's career, whereas **作者** describes their role in creating a specific work. | |
| * [[作品]] (zuòpǐn) - A piece of work (e.g., literary, artistic). This is the creation of a **作者**. | |
| * [[读者]] (dúzhě) - Reader. The natural counterpart to the **作者**. | |
| * [[编者]] (biānzhě) - Editor; compiler. The person who edits or compiles a work, especially a collection of texts. | |
| * [[文学]] (wénxué) - Literature. The field in which a **作者** or **作家** often works. | |
| * [[版权]] (bǎnquán) - Copyright. The legal rights that a **作者** has over their work. | |
| * [[诗人]] (shīrén) - Poet. A specific type of **作者** who writes poetry. | |
| * [[笔者]] (bǐzhě) - A formal and slightly archaic way for an author to refer to themselves ("this writer," "the present writer"). You will often see it in prefaces or academic papers. | |