Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 著者 | chosha | [t͡ɕo̞ɕa̠] (narrow) |
| 作家 | sakka | [sa̠k̚ka̠] (narrow) |
| 作者 | sakusha | [sa̠kɯ̟̊ɕa̠] (narrow) |
| 作成者 | sakuseisha | |
| 筆者 | hissha | [çiɕːa̠] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different words for 'author' based on whether you are discussing a professional writer, the creator of an artistic work or the person responsible for a specific document or file. While 著者 refers to the author of a published or academic book, 作家 is used for someone whose profession is writing, such as a novelist. For non-literary creators like those of music, paintings or digital content, use 作者. If you are referring to the maker of a specific file or data set, use 作成者.
What does it mean word for word?
The related verb 著す means to write or compose a book or a significant work.
Which one should you use?
Use 著者 when specifically discussing the author of a published book or academic work. Use 作家 to refer to a writer or author as a profession, such as an essayist or novelist. Use 作者 when referring to the creator of artistic works like music or paintings. Use 作成者 for the person who created a specific document or file. Finally, use 筆者 as a formal or humble way for an author to refer to themselves in their own writing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
chosha
Did you know?
- The term 筆者, used to refer to oneself as an 'author', literally translates to 'the person of the brush'.
- Depending on the era, a classic author might be referred to as a 文豪, a term meaning 'great literary master' that carries more prestige than the standard 作家.
- If you are referring to a person who 'authored' a mistake or a crime, Japanese would not use any of these 'author' terms, instead using words for 'perpetrator' or 'cause'.
Examples in context
- 彼は作家です。He's an author.This sentence is useful for identifying someone's profession as a writer using 作家.Tatoeba #106830 by bunbuku, translation #593248 by CK
- 好きな作家は誰ですか？Who is your favorite author?This sentence is useful for asking about a person's favorite writer using 作家.Tatoeba #233311 by tommy_san, translation #70681 by CK
- この本の著者は誰ですか。Who is the author of this book?This sentence is useful for asking who the author of a specific book is using 著者.Tatoeba #219748 by bunbuku, translation #57068 by CK
- その作家は小説だけでなく、詩も書いています。That author writes not only novels but also poetry.
- この小説の作者は誰ですか？Who is the author of this novel?
- 彼は幅広いジャンルで活躍する文章家です。He is a versatile writer who is active in various genres.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are in a bookstore.
- 美咲 Misakiこの本の著者は誰ですか？kono hon no chosha wa dare desu ka?Who is the author of this book?
- 蓮 Ren有名な著者の本ですよ。yuumei na chosha no hon desu yo.It is a book by a famous author.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんはこの人を知っていますか？ren-san wa kono hito o shitte imasu ka?Ren, do you know this person?
- 蓮 Renはい、とても尊敬しています。hai, totemo sonkei shite imasu.Yes, I respect him very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “author” translations and entries 著者, 作家, 作者, 筆者, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
