zuòcí: 作词 - To Write Lyrics, Lyric Writing

• Keywords: 作词, zuòcí, write lyrics in Chinese, Chinese lyricist, songwriting in Chinese, Chinese song lyrics, C-pop lyrics, Mandopop songwriting, 作曲, 填词, Chinese music production
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 作词 (zuòcí), which means “to write lyrics” or “lyric writing.” This page explores its cultural significance in the Chinese music world, where the lyricist is often a celebrated artist. Discover how 作词 is distinct from composing music (作曲), see practical examples from C-pop, and understand how to use the term correctly when discussing your favorite Chinese songs.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuòcí
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To compose the lyrics for a song.
• In a Nutshell: 作词 (zuòcí) is a specific term for the act of creating the words for a piece of music. Unlike the general English term “songwriting,” which can be ambiguous, 作词 isolates the verbal craft from the musical composition. In Chinese-speaking cultures, the person who does this (作词人) is a highly respected artist, and their contribution is always clearly credited separately from the music composer.

• 作 (zuò): This character means “to do,” “to make,” or “to compose.” It's made of the person radical (亻) on the left, indicating an action done by a person, and a phonetic component (乍) on the right. Think of it as the act of creation or work.
• 词 (cí): This character means “word,” “phrase,” or specifically “lyrics.” You'll see it in other related words like 歌词 (gēcí - song lyrics) and 生词 (shēngcí - new vocabulary words).
• Together, 作词 (zuòcí) literally means “to make words,” which perfectly captures the meaning of crafting lyrics for a song.

In the West, the “singer-songwriter” who writes both their own music and lyrics is a common archetype. While this exists in the Chinese music world, there is a much stronger tradition of collaboration where the roles are distinct and specialized. The 作词 (zuòcí), or lyricist, holds a place of high cultural prestige, often seen as a modern-day poet. This reverence for lyricism is rooted in China's deep literary history. The art of pairing words with music is an ancient one, and the poetic forms of the Tang (唐诗) and Song (宋词) dynasties are foundational to Chinese culture. A great modern lyricist is seen as an heir to this tradition. For example, lyricists like Vincent Fang (方文山), who frequently collaborates with superstar Jay Chou (周杰伦), and Lin Xi (林夕), who has written for countless Cantopop legends, are household names in their own right. Fans will often follow a lyricist's work across different singers, appreciating their unique style, clever wordplay, and ability to evoke emotion. This is different from the West, where a pop song's lyricist is often less known to the general public than the performer or producer. The credit “作词：” is a vital piece of information for any Chinese music fan.

You will encounter 作词 constantly when engaging with Chinese music. It's a standard, neutral term used in all contexts, from formal industry discussions to casual chats with friends.

Virtually every song's credits, whether on a music streaming app like QQ Music or in a Karaoke (KTV) video, will clearly distinguish the lyricist and the composer:

• 作词： 方文山 (Lyricist: Vincent Fang)
• 作曲： 周杰伦 (Composer: Jay Chou)

It's common for fans to discuss the lyrical quality of a song or the style of a particular lyricist.

• “你最喜欢谁的作词风格？” (Whose lyric-writing style do you like the most?)
• “这首歌的词写得太美了！作词是谁啊？” (The lyrics of this song are so beautiful! Who's the lyricist?)

• Example 1:
  • 她不仅会唱歌，还会作词。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn huì chànggē, hái huì zuòcí.
  • English: She not only can sing, but she can also write lyrics.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence showing 作词 as a skill or ability.
• Example 2:
  • 这首歌的作词是著名的诗人。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gē de zuòcí shì zhùmíng de shīrén.
  • English: The lyricist for this song is a famous poet.
  • Analysis: Here, 作词 is used to mean “the person who wrote the lyrics” or “lyricist,” which is a common shortcut for 作词人 (zuòcí rén).
• Example 3:
  • 我长大以后想给周杰伦作词。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǎng dà yǐhòu xiǎng gěi Zhōu Jiélún zuòcí.
  • English: When I grow up, I want to write lyrics for Jay Chou.
  • Analysis: This shows the structure “给 [someone] 作词” (gěi [someone] zuòcí), meaning “to write lyrics for someone.”
• Example 4:
  • 他的作词充满了中国风的元素。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zuòcí chōngmǎnle Zhōngguó fēng de yuánsù.
  • English: His lyric writing is full of Chinese-style elements.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 作词 functions as a noun, referring to the body of work or the craft itself (“lyric writing”).
• Example 5:
  • 一首好歌，作词和作曲同样重要。
  • Pinyin: Yī shǒu hǎo gē, zuòcí hé zuòqǔ tóngyàng zhòngyào.
  • English: For a good song, the lyrics and the music composition are equally important.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts 作词 with its counterpart, 作曲 (zuòqǔ), highlighting their distinct roles.
• Example 6:
  • 你能帮我这首曲子作词吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ zhè shǒu qǔzi zuòcí ma?
  • English: Can you help me write lyrics for this melody?
  • Analysis: A practical request, showing how one might ask for collaboration.
• Example 7:
  • 这个乐队的主唱负责所有歌曲的作词。
  • Pinyin: Zhège yuèduì de zhǔchàng fùzé suǒyǒu gēqǔ de zuòcí.
  • English: The lead singer of this band is responsible for writing the lyrics for all the songs.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the case where the roles of singer and lyricist are combined.
• Example 8:
  • 林夕的作词以其深刻和细腻的情感而闻名。
  • Pinyin: Lín Xī de zuòcí yǐ qí shēnkè hé xìnì de qínggǎn ér wénmíng.
  • English: Lin Xi's lyric writing is famous for its profound and delicate emotions.
  • Analysis: Discussing the specific style of a famous lyricist, again using 作词 as a noun for their craft.
• Example 9:
  • 作词不仅需要文采，还需要对音乐的理解。
  • Pinyin: Zuòcí bùjǐn xūyào wéncǎi, hái xūyào duì yīnyuè de lǐjiě.
  • English: Writing lyrics not only requires literary talent but also an understanding of music.
  • Analysis: A more abstract sentence about the requirements of the craft.
• Example 10:
  • 他花了整整一个星期才为这首歌作词完毕。
  • Pinyin: Tā huāle zhěngzhěng yīgè xīngqī cái wèi zhè shǒu gē zuòcí wánbì.
  • English: He spent a whole week to finish writing the lyrics for this song.
  • Analysis: Shows the process and completion of the action “作词”.

The most critical point for learners is to not confuse 作词 (zuòcí) with related terms.

• 作词 (zuòcí) vs. 作曲 (zuòqǔ): This is the most common pitfall.
  • 作词 (zuòcí): To write WORDS (lyrics).
  • 作曲 (zuòqǔ): To write MUSIC (melody, harmony).
  • Incorrect: 我喜欢这首歌的作曲，歌词太感人了。(I like this song's music composition, the lyrics are so moving.)
  • Why it's wrong: The second half of the sentence is about lyrics (歌词), so you should be praising the 作词.
  • Correct: 我喜欢这首歌的作词，歌词太感人了。(I like this song's lyric writing, the lyrics are so moving.)
• 作词 (zuòcí) vs. 写歌 (xiě gē):
  • 写歌 (xiě gē): Means “to write a song.” This is a general, often ambiguous term. It *can* mean writing both music and lyrics, or it could mean just one or the other depending on the context.
  • 作词 (zuòcí): Is specific and unambiguous. It *only* refers to writing the words.
  • If you want to be precise about who did what, always use 作词 and 作曲.

• 作曲 (zuòqǔ) - The direct counterpart: to compose music/melody.
• 歌词 (gēcí) - The noun for the final product: “song lyrics.”
• 作词人 (zuòcí rén) - The person who writes lyrics; a “lyricist.” A more formal and complete term than just using 作词 as a noun for the person.
• 填词 (tiáncí) - A more specific term meaning “to fill in words.” This is often used when lyrics are written to fit a pre-existing melody, such as for a foreign song being adapted into Chinese.
• 编曲 (biānqǔ) - To arrange music. This refers to deciding the instrumentation, structure, and overall sound of the song, separate from the core melody.
• 写歌 (xiě gē) - A general, colloquial term for “to write a song.”
• 创作 (chuàngzuò) - A broader artistic term meaning “to create” or “to compose.” It can refer to music, literature, or any creative work.
• 歌手 (gēshǒu) - The singer; the performer of the song.
• 音乐人 (yīnyuè rén) - A “musician” or “music person,” a general term for someone who works in the music industry.