Meaning

Primary

Monumental Work

Alternatives

Masterpiece, Masterwork

Word Type

noun

Explanation

The big make! What is your big make? Bigger than anything else. It is your monumental work, a great masterpiece that impresses others.

大作 refers to a large-scale or significant work in various creative fields like film, literature, and art. It highlights the work's grand scale or importance, not necessarily its popularity or success.

Reading

たいさく
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

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

Did you know that there's a monumental work about a tie sack (たいさく)? It's a masterpiece about a magic sack that produces tie after tie after tie after tie... A bit like The Magic Porridge Pot, but with a sack and ties instead.

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 大作を見る

    to watch a masterpiece, to see a masterpiece

    大作を作る

    to create a monumental work

    大作をかく

    to write a masterpiece, to draw a masterpiece

Context Sentences

「サイコ」はヒッチコックの大作だ。

"Psycho" is Hitchcock's magnum opus.

「スターウォーズ エピソードI」は1999年のアメリカ一の大作でした。

"Star Wars: Episode I" was the most epic American film of 1999.

もう自分では大作のアイディアは考えられない。

I can't come up with any ideas for a masterpiece anymore.

Kanji Composition