Meaning

Primary

Composition

Alternatives

Writing, Essay

Word Type

noun, verbal noun

Explanation

When you make writing, what are you doing? Simply put, you're writing. If you want to be fancier about it, you could say this is composition.

Note that 作文 often refers to the end result of a writing process, like a finished essay, rather than the writing process itself. It’s also commonly associated with various writing tasks assigned to students in Japanese elementary or middle school.

Reading

さくぶん
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. Since both and have two on'yomi readings, here's a mnemonic to help you remember which ones to use:

You can't stop writing compositions about sacks 'n' buns (さくぶん). You're obsessed with them. You've been writing essay after essay about sacks 'n' buns. Stop writing about sacks 'n' buns!

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 作文コンテスト

    an essay writing contest

    作文トレーニング

    training in essay writing

    作文コンクール

    an essay writing contest

Context Sentences

七才の男の子の作文が本になった。

A seven-year-old boy's essay became a book.

一年生の作文クラスで「お花見」をテーマに作文をした。

In first grade writing class, we wrote on the theme of "cherry blossom viewing".

作文のエラーは太い赤ペンで正しました。

I corrected composition errors with a fat red pen.

Kanji Composition