作文
zuòwén
The English phrase 'essay' can be translated into Chinese as 作文 (zuòwén). Wiktionary also lists 雜文 / 杂文 (záwén) and 論文 / 论文 (lùnwén).
Meaning: written composition (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 作文 | zuòwén |
| 雜文 / 杂文 | záwén |
| 論文 / 论文 | lùnwén |
While 作文 is the general term for a written composition, if you wish to refer more broadly to various types of written works like articles or blog posts, you can use 文章.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 作文 is composed of 作 (to make/do) and 文 (writing/text).
Which one should you use?
论文 refers to formal academic papers, theses or scholarly dissertations rather than simple school compositions. And 杂文 refers to literary essays or miscellaneous writings, often used in a journalistic or critical context.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting essays, you should use the measure word 篇, such as in the phrase 一篇作文 (one essay).
How do you pronounce it?
zuòwén
Did you know?
- In Chinese schools, students often practice 作文 by copying a model essay word for word to learn structure and vocabulary.
- In some high-stakes Chinese exams, students are judged on their 作文 not just for content but for the beauty of their calligraphy.
- The character 文 used in 作文 originally depicted a pattern or design, suggesting that writing is like weaving a decorative fabric.
Examples in context
- 你什麼時候需要交作文？When have you got to hand in your essay?This sentence is useful for asking about a deadline for handing in a 作文.Tatoeba #10530868 by DaoSeng, translation #10472684 by sundown
- 这篇英语作文离完美还差得远。This English essay is far from perfect.This sentence describes the quality of an English 作文.Tatoeba #510879 by fucongcong, translation #1550923 by emory989
- 这篇作文花了我两个小时来完成。It took me 2 hours to finish the essay.This sentence explains the time taken to finish a 作文.Tatoeba #623197 by xiuqin, translation #456153 by lukaszpp
- 学生们要写一篇作文The students need to write an essay.
- 我在学校写了一篇作文I wrote an essay at school.
- 请写一篇关于环保的作文Please write an essay about environmental protection.
- 我写了一篇文章分享我的经历I wrote an essay to share my experience.
- 这篇文章很有趣，你一定要读This essay is interesting, you should definitely read it.
Example conversation
Two students are talking in the school library about their homework.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你的作文写完了吗？Nǐ de zuòwén xiě wán le ma?Have you finished your essay?
- 浩然 Haoran还没，我还在写。Hái méi, wǒ hái zài xiě.Not yet, I am still writing it.
- 佳怡 Jiayi浩然，你的作文题目是什么？Hàorán, nǐ de zuòwén tímù shì shénme?Haoran, what is the topic of your essay?
- 浩然 Haoran关于环境保护。Guānyú huánjìng bǎohù.It is about environmental protection.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “essay” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
