zuòjiā: 作家 - Writer, Author

• Keywords: zuojia, 作家, writer in Chinese, author in Chinese, Chinese literature, Chinese authors, how to say writer in Chinese, 作者, 小说家, 文学
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 作家 (zuòjiā), meaning “writer” or “author.” This comprehensive guide explores the cultural significance of writers in China, breaks down the characters 作 and 家, and provides practical examples. Understand the crucial difference between 作家 (zuòjiā) and 作者 (zuòzhě) to speak about your favorite Chinese authors and their literary works with confidence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuòjiā
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A person who writes books, stories, or other literary works as a profession or a serious artistic pursuit.
• In a Nutshell: 作家 (zuòjiā) is the word for a “writer” or “author” in the professional, artistic sense. It's not used for just anyone who writes, like a student writing an essay or someone writing a shopping list. Think of a `作家` as someone whose identity is tied to the craft of writing, especially literature—a novelist, an essayist, or a poet. It carries a sense of respect, skill, and public recognition.

• 作 (zuò): This character means “to make,” “to do,” “to compose,” or “to write.” It's a foundational character for actions involving creation.
• 家 (jiā): While its primary meaning is “home” or “family,” when used as a suffix, it means “specialist,” “-ist,” or “expert in a field.” You see this in other professions like 科学家 (kēxuéjiā - scientist) and 艺术家 (yìshùjiā - artist).
• Together, 作 (zuò) + 家 (jiā) literally translates to “a specialist in composing/writing,” which perfectly captures the meaning of a professional “writer” or “author.”

Historically, Chinese culture has held writers and scholars (known as 文人 wénrén) in extremely high regard. The ability to compose poetry and write elegant prose was considered the mark of a truly cultivated person, often more so than military prowess or commercial success. This deep respect for the written word carries over to the modern perception of a 作家 (zuòjiā). In the West, the term “writer” can be very broad. We have technical writers, copywriters, content writers, and novelists, and we might call all of them “writers.” In Chinese, 作家 (zuòjiā) is reserved almost exclusively for those who create literature and art with words. A person who writes advertising copy would likely not be called a `作家`. Therefore, calling someone a `作家` is a statement of respect for their artistic contribution. It implies they are a published, recognized creator of literary works, similar to how English uses “author” or “novelist” to denote a higher level of professional achievement than the more general “writer.”

作家 (zuòjiā) is used in everyday conversation, academic discussions, and media to refer to literary authors.

• Describing a Profession: It's the standard term for someone's job if they are an author.
  • e.g., “她的职业是作家。” (Tā de zhíyè shì zuòjiā.) - “Her profession is a writer.”
• Discussing Literature: When talking about books and the people who write them, `作家` is the go-to term.
  • e.g., “你最喜欢哪位现代作家？” (Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎ wèi xiàndài zuòjiā?) - “Which modern author do you like the most?”
• Connotation and Formality: The term is neutral to formal and carries a positive, respectful connotation. You wouldn't use it sarcastically unless the context was very clear. It's a title of honor, so you would not casually call a friend who blogs a `作家` unless they are truly a serious, published writer.

• Example 1:
  • 莫言是一位获得过诺贝尔文学奖的中国作家。
  • Pinyin: Mò Yán shì yí wèi huòdéguò Nuòbèi'ěr Wénxué Jiǎng de Zhōngguó zuòjiā.
  • English: Mo Yan is a Chinese author who has won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
  • Analysis: This example shows how `作家` is used to identify a specific, famous author by their profession. The measure word for respected professions, 位 (wèi), is used here.
• Example 2:
  • 我从小的梦想就是成为一名作家。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ cóngxiǎo de mèngxiǎng jiùshì chéngwéi yì míng zuòjiā.
  • English: My dream since I was little has been to become a writer.
  • Analysis: Here, `作家` represents a career aspiration. The measure word 名 (míng) is also commonly used for people's professions.
• Example 3:
  • 这位年轻作家的第一本小说就很畅销。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi niánqīng zuòjiā de dì-yī běn xiǎoshuō jiù hěn chàngxiāo.
  • English: This young author's first novel sold very well.
  • Analysis: `作家` can be modified with adjectives like 年轻 (niánqīng - young) or 著名 (zhùmíng - famous).
• Example 4:
  • 你觉得当一个作家最需要什么品质？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde dāng yí ge zuòjiā zuì xūyào shénme pǐnzhì?
  • English: What qualities do you think are most needed to be a writer?
  • Analysis: The phrase “当一个…” (dāng yí ge…) means “to be a…” or “to work as a…”, common when discussing roles or professions.
• Example 5:
  • 她不仅是位作家，还是一位出色的画家。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn shì wèi zuòjiā, hái shì yí wèi chūsè de huàjiā.
  • English: Not only is she a writer, but she is also an outstanding painter.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the “不仅…还…” (bùjǐn…hái…) structure to show someone has multiple talents, with `作家` being one of them.
• Example 6:
  • 这本书的作者是一位非常有名的作家。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū de zuòzhě shì yí wèi fēicháng yǒumíng de zuòjiā.
  • English: The author of this book is a very famous writer.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect sentence to illustrate the difference between `作者` (the specific creator of this one work) and `作家` (their general profession/identity).
• Example 7:
  • 很多作家的生活都比较简单。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō zuòjiā de shēnghuó dōu bǐjiào jiǎndān.
  • English: The lives of many writers are relatively simple.
  • Analysis: A general statement about writers as a group.
• Example 8:
  • 张爱玲是中国现代文学史上重要的女作家。
  • Pinyin: Zhāng Àilíng shì Zhōngguó xiàndài wénxué shǐshàng zhòngyào de nǚ zuòjiā.
  • English: Eileen Chang is an important female writer in the history of modern Chinese literature.
  • Analysis: Shows how you can specify the gender by adding 女 (nǚ) for “female” or 男 (nán) for “male” before `作家`.
• Example 9:
  • 成为一名网络作家现在很流行。
  • Pinyin: Chéngwéi yì míng wǎngluò zuòjiā xiànzài hěn liúxíng.
  • English: Becoming an online writer is very popular now.
  • Analysis: This shows a modern application of the term, specifying the medium with 网络 (wǎngluò - internet). Note that this still implies a serious, often professional, online author (e.g., of web novels).
• Example 10:
  • 一位好作家必须对生活有深刻的观察。
  • Pinyin: Yí wèi hǎo zuòjiā bìxū duì shēnghuó yǒu shēnkè de guānchá.
  • English: A good writer must have a profound observation of life.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a characteristic of a “good writer” (好作家), treating the role as a craft that requires certain skills.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 作家 (zuòjiā) and 作者 (zuòzhě). They can both be translated as “author,” but their usage is distinct.

• 作家 (zuòjiā): The Profession/Identity. This refers to a person's role or profession as a writer. It's a general title.
  • Think: “He is an author.” → 他是一位作家。 (Tā shì yí wèi zuòjiā.)
• 作者 (zuòzhě): The Creator of a Specific Work. This links a person directly to a piece of work they created. It means “the creator of X.”
  • Think: “He is the author of this book.” → 他是这本书的作者。 (Tā shì zhè běn shū de zuòzhě.)

Common Mistakes:

• INCORRECT: 他是一位作者。(Tā shì yí wèi zuòzhě.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds incomplete in Chinese, like saying “He is an author of…” without specifying *what* he is the author of. You should use `作家` to describe someone's profession.
  • CORRECT: 他是一位作家。 (Tā shì yí wèi zuòjiā.)
• INCORRECT: 这本书的作家是谁？ (Zhè běn shū de zuòjiā shì shéi?)
  • Why it's wrong: While grammatically understandable, it's not idiomatic. You are asking about the specific creator of this single book, not their general profession. The correct word is `作者`.
  • CORRECT: 这本书的作者是谁？ (Zhè běn shū de zuòzhě shì shéi?)

• 作者 (zuòzhě) - The author/creator of a specific work. The most important related term to distinguish.
• 小说家 (xiǎoshuōjiā) - Novelist; a more specific type of `作家`.
• 诗人 (shīrén) - Poet; another specific type of `作家`.
• 编剧 (biānjù) - Screenwriter or playwright; a related but distinct writing profession.
• 文学 (wénxué) - Literature; the field a `作家` works in.
• 作品 (zuòpǐn) - A work (of art, literature, etc.); the product created by a `作家` or `作者`.
• 文人 (wénrén) - Literati, scholar; a historical and cultural term for intellectuals and writers in ancient China.
• 笔者 (bǐzhě) - “The author,” “I, the writer”; a formal and humble way for a writer to refer to themself in writing (literally “this pen-holder”).