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Kotomora

作

make, production, prepare, build

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 200Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • サク
  • サ

Kun'yomi

  • つく.る
  • つく.り
  • -づく.り

Nanori

  • くり
  • さか
  • さっ
  • づくり

Meaning

作 centers on bringing something into being through deliberate action: making, producing, preparing, or building. The meanings all share the idea of active creation or construction.

Most common words using 作

24 of 866
  • 作るつくる
    N5

    to make; to produce; to manufacture; to build; to construct

  • 作品さくひん
    N3

    work (e.g. book, film, painting, composition); piece; production; opus

  • 作りつくり
    N1

    making; producing; manufacturing; building; construction; make; structure

  • 作さく
    N1

    work (e.g. of art); piece; production

  • 作業さぎょう
    N3

    work; operation; task

  • 制作せいさく
    N3

    work (film, book)

  • 作戦さくせん
    N1

    tactics; strategy

  • 操作そうさ
    N3

    operation; management; handling

  • 作成さくせい
    N3

    making (a report, plan, contract, etc.); drawing up; writing out; preparing; creating (a file, website, account, etc.)

  • 原作げんさく
    N1

    original work

  • 新作しんさく

    new work; new production; new composition; new creation; new title

  • 作家さっか
    N3

    author; writer; novelist; artist

  • 著作ちょさく

    writing (a book); book; (literary) work; writings

  • 製作せいさく
    N2

    manufacture; production

  • 創作そうさく
    N2

    creation; production; creative work (novel, film, etc.); original work; (creative) writing

  • 作者さくしゃ
    N2

    creator (of a work); author; writer; artist; composer; playwright; dramatist

  • 作用さよう
    N2

    action; operation; process; agency; effect; function

  • 動作どうさ
    N2

    movement (of the body); action; motion; gesture

  • 工作こうさく
    N1

    handicraft

  • 作曲さっきょく
    N3

    composition (of music); setting; writing music

  • 自作じさく

    one's own work; making by oneself

  • 名作めいさく
    N3

    masterpiece; masterwork

  • 副作用ふくさよう
    N2

    side effect; adverse reaction

  • 傑作けっさく
    N2

    masterpiece; masterwork; chef d'oeuvre; fine piece of work

Explore all words using 作 →

Study

Etymology

作 combines 亻 (person) with 乍, which likely contributes the sound and carries an early sense of making or doing. The modern form keeps this person-acting structure.

Meaning mnemonic

A person 亻 beside 乍, which looks like a saw or tool, suggests a person making something with their hands.

Reading mnemonic

For サク, imagine a person making a sack to carry their tools: sack -> サク, and the person 亻 is busy building it.