作文 zuòwén to write an essay
to write an essay; composition (student essay)
How to remember 作文: 作 do + 文 culture = to write an essay.
Characters
How it is used
- Specifically a school essay/composition assignment, not writing in general - 写作文 (xiě zuòwén) to write a composition, 作文题目 essay topic.
- As a verb-object phrase it's slightly informal shorthand for "do the essay assignment"; the formal noun for a piece of writing is 文章 (wénzhāng).
- Kids and students say this constantly; adults writing professionally use 写文章 or 写作 instead.
Example sentences
- 作文只写了一段。 Zuòwén zhǐ xiěle yī duàn.Only one paragraph of the composition has been written.
- 这篇英语作文离完美还差得远。 Zhèpiān yīngyǔ zuòwén lí wánměi hái chàdeyuǎn.This English essay is far from perfect.