Usage note
作文表示书面写作，也指学校写的文章。
zuò wén biǎo shì shū miàn xiě zuò， yě zhǐ xué xiào xiě de wén zhāng。
作文 means written composition, usually a school essay.
Context note
作文常用于课堂、考试和练习。
zuò wén cháng yòng yú kè táng 、 kǎo shì hé liàn xí。
It is often used for class, exams, and practice.
5 examples
我今天要写作文。
wǒ jīn tiān yào xiě zuò wén。
I need to write a composition today.
这篇作文写得很好。
zhè piān zuò wén xiě dé hěn hǎo。
This composition is written very well.
老师布置了一篇作文。
lǎo shī bù zhì le yì piān zuò wén。
The teacher assigned a composition.
作文题目不难。
zuò wén tí mù bù nán。
The essay topic is not difficult.
请认真修改作文。
qǐng rèn zhēn xiū gǎi zuò wén。
Please revise the composition carefully.
5 mini stories
考试前，他练习写作文。
kǎo shì qián， tā liàn xí xiě zuò wén。
Before the exam, he practiced writing compositions.
老师在课堂上讲了作文的写法。
lǎo shī zài kè táng shàng jiǎng le zuò wén de xiě fǎ。
The teacher explained how to write a composition in class.
她把作文写完后交给老师。
tā bǎ zuò wén xiě wán hòu jiāo gěi lǎo shī。
After finishing the composition, she handed it to the teacher.
这次作文的主题是家人。
zhè cì zuò wén de zhǔ tí shì jiā rén。
The topic of this composition is family.
同学们互相看作文。
tóng xué men hù xiāng kàn zuò wén。
The classmates read each other's compositions.
Mini dialogue
写作文
A
你的作文写了什么故事？
Nǐ de zuò wén xiě le shénme gùshi?
What story did you write in your composition?
B
我写了我的小狗，它很可爱。
Wǒ xiě le wǒ de xiǎo gǒu, tā hěn kě'ài.
I wrote about my little dog, it is very cute.
分享作文
A
老师让我读我的作文给大家听。
Lǎoshī ràng wǒ dú wǒ de zuò wén gěi dàjiā tīng.
The teacher asked me to read my composition to everyone.
B
你的作文一定写得很好。
Nǐ de zuò wén yīdìng xiě de hěn hǎo.
Your composition must be very well written.
Related words and contrasts
similar
文章
wénzhāng
article; essay
文章 is a general written piece; 作文 is specifically a student composition.
related
日记
rìjì
diary
A diary is a personal daily record, a type of writing like 作文.