Keywords: 作品 meaning, zuopin Chinese, what does zuopin mean, Chinese word for artwork, Chinese for literary work, creation in Chinese, how to say work in Chinese, 作品 vs 工作, 艺术作品 (yìshù zuòpǐn), masterpiece in Chinese.
Summary: Discover the meaning of 作品 (zuòpǐn), the essential Chinese word for a “work of art,” “literary work,” or “creation.” This page breaks down how to use 作品 to describe everything from a famous painting or novel to a student's final project. We'll clarify the crucial difference between 作品 (zuòpǐn) and the word for “job,” 工作 (gōngzuò), helping you avoid common mistakes. Understand the cultural value placed on creative works in China through practical examples and clear analysis.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): zuòpǐn
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: A finished piece of creative output, such as a work of art, literature, music, or design.
In a Nutshell:作品 (zuòpǐn) is the word you use for something a person has *created* or *produced*, especially in an artistic or intellectual field. Think of it as the tangible result of creative effort. It's not the work you *do* for a living (that's a job, or 工作 gōngzuò), but the finished work you can display, read, or listen to. It carries a sense of authorship, skill, and completion.
Character Breakdown
作 (zuò): This character means “to make,” “to compose,” or “to act as.” It's often used in contexts of creation and authorship, like in 作家 (zuòjiā), “writer.” It implies a deliberate, skillful act of making something.
品 (pǐn): This character means “product,” “article,” or “quality.” Visually, it's composed of three “mouth” radicals (口), which originally suggested tasting, judging, or classifying things. It points to a finished item that can be evaluated.
Together, 作品 (zuòpǐn) literally means a “made product,” perfectly capturing the concept of a finished creative work that is ready to be experienced and judged.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, there is a deep and historical respect for creative and scholarly pursuits. The “scholar-official” (士大夫, shìdàfū) of ancient China was esteemed not just for his administrative skills but also for his ability to create 作品 in poetry, calligraphy, and painting. This legacy imbues the word 作品 with a sense of dignity and cultural importance.
A key cultural comparison is with the English word “work.” In English, “work” is incredibly broad—it can be a noun (“a work of art,” “I'm going to work”) or a verb (“it doesn't work”). 作品 is much more specific. It only refers to the created object.
The most important cultural and linguistic distinction for a learner is 作品 (zuòpǐn) vs. 工作 (gōngzuò). 工作 is your job, your employment, the labor you perform to earn a living. A painter's 工作 is painting every day; their finished paintings are their 作品. This distinction highlights a separation between the process of labor and the valued, final creation.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Arts and Media: This is the most common context. You use 作品 to talk about a painter's new painting, a musician's new album, a director's film, or a novelist's book.
e.g., “This is the director's most famous 作品.”
Academics and Education: In a school or university setting, 作品 can refer to a student's final project, a significant essay, a design portfolio, or a thesis. It's more formal and substantial than standard 作业 (zuòyè), or “homework.” A graduation project is often called a 毕业作品 (bìyè zuòpǐn).
General Creativity: The term can be extended to any field where a high level of skill and creativity results in a finished product. This could include a piece of architectural design, a piece of software, or a craft item. It always implies a sense of pride and authorship.
Formality: The term is neutral to slightly formal. It's used in everyday conversation, news articles, and academic discussions. It is not slang.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
这位画家的每一件作品都充满了感情。
Pinyin: Zhè wèi huàjiā de měi yí jiàn zuòpǐn dōu chōngmǎn le gǎnqíng.
English: Every one of this artist's works is full of emotion.
Analysis: A classic example of using 作品 for art. Note the measure word 件 (jiàn), which is commonly used for artworks and pieces of clothing.
Example 2:
你最喜欢哪部文学作品？
Pinyin: Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎ bù wénxué zuòpǐn?
English: Which literary work is your favorite?
Analysis: Here, 作品 is combined with 文学 (wénxué), “literature,” to be more specific. The measure word 部 (bù) is used for films, novels, and other longer works.
Example 3:
他的毕业作品是一个关于城市变迁的纪录片。
Pinyin: Tā de bìyè zuòpǐn shì yí gè guānyú chéngshì biànqiān de jìlùpiàn.
English: His graduation project is a documentary about urban change.
Analysis: This shows the academic use of 作品. A graduation project is a significant, finished creation.
English: The children displayed their handicrafts as “works” in the classroom.
Analysis: Demonstrates that even simple creations like children's crafts can be called 作品 in the right context, emphasizing the pride and effort put into them.
Example 9:
这首歌是她沉寂三年后的第一部作品。
Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gē shì tā chénjì sān nián hòu de dì yī bù zuòpǐn.
English: This song is her first work after three years of silence.
Analysis: 作品 is used here for a single piece of music (a song).
Example 10:
虽然这只是一个草稿，但已经能看出未来杰作作品的影子。
Pinyin: Suīrán zhè zhǐshì yí gè cǎogǎo, dàn yǐjīng néng kàn chū wèilái jiézuò zuòpǐn de yǐngzi.
English: Although this is just a draft, you can already see the shadow of a future masterpiece.
Analysis: The term 杰作 (jiézuò), meaning masterpiece, is often used to describe an exceptional 作品.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The #1 Mistake: Confusing 作品 (zuòpǐn) and 工作 (gōngzuò).
English speakers often use “work” for their job. This is never作品 in Chinese. 作品 is the creative output, 工作 is the job or task.
Correct: 我今天有很多工作要做。 (Wǒ jīntiān yǒu hěnduō gōngzuò yào zuò.) → “I have a lot of work to do today.”
Correct: 这是我最得意的作品。 (Zhè shì wǒ zuì déyì de zuòpǐn.) → “This is the creation I am most proud of.”
Scope: Finished Products Only.
作品 refers to a complete, standalone piece. You wouldn't call your daily emails or meeting notes your 作品. It's reserved for things that have a clear beginning and end and are presented as a finished whole. An exception might be a student's sketchbook if presented as a complete collection.
Not for Labor or Chores.
You can't use 作品 to describe physical labor or simple tasks. Cleaning the house is 家务 (jiāwù), not a 作品. Fixing a car is 修理 (xiūlǐ), not creating a 作品.
Related Terms and Concepts
工作 (gōngzuò) - The most important related term. It means “job,” “work,” or “task.” It's the process, whereas 作品 is the creative product.
艺术品 (yìshùpǐn) - A work of art. This is more specific than 作品 and is used exclusively for things like paintings, sculptures, etc. All 艺术品 are 作品, but not all 作品 (like a student essay) are 艺术品.
产品 (chǎnpǐn) - A product, usually one that is commercially manufactured or mass-produced. It lacks the artistic or personal creative connotation of 作品. An iPhone is a 产品; a beautiful photograph taken with it is a 作品.
著作 (zhùzuò) - A written work, a book, a literary piece. This is more formal and specific to writing than 作品.
作业 (zuòyè) - Homework, assignment. This refers to the routine tasks assigned by a teacher. A final, large-scale project might be elevated from 作业 to be called a 作品.
杰作 (jiézuò) - A masterpiece. This is a term of high praise for an outstanding 作品.
创作 (chuàngzuò) - Can be a verb (“to create”) or a noun (“a creation”). As a verb, it's the action that produces a 作品.
作家 (zuòjiā) - An author, a writer. A person whose profession is to create literary 作品.
作者 (zuòzhě) - The author or creator of a specific work. You would say “这部作品的作者是谁？” (Who is the creator of this work?).