Key Facts
- Hangul: 작가; Revised Romanization: jakga; pronounced [jak-kka]
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 作家 (作 make + 家 expert)
- Register: Neutral; used for authors and also for visual artists (e.g. 사진작가).
- Senses: writer; author; artist (in 작가 compounds)
Writer in Korean: What Does 작가 Mean?
작가 covers three senses. The first two are a writer and an author, especially someone creating fiction or scripts. The third reaches beyond books. In compounds, 작가 can mean an artist, so 사진작가 is a photographer who works as an artist, not a person who snaps holiday photos. The word is Sino-Korean and neutral in tone.
How Do You Pronounce 작가?
Two syllables, jak-ga, but the spoken form is [jak-kka]. The first syllable ends in the sound k, and a plain g that follows a k-sound turns tense, so the second syllable sounds like "kka". This follows the tensing rule of the Standard Pronunciation Rules (Article 23) from 국립국어원. The romanization jakga keeps the spelling; your mouth should say the tense form.
Example Sentences with 작가
작가는 책을 써요.
Jakganeun chaegeul sseoyo.
The writer writes books.
A statement of the job. 작가는 is the topic, 책을 is the object, and 써요 is the verb for writing. The three parts line up in the order topic, object, verb.
저는 작가가 되고 싶어요.
Jeoneun jakgaga doego sipeoyo.
I want to become a writer.
An ambition. 되고 싶어요 means "want to become", and 작가가 is the thing you hope to become. 저는 is the polite word for "I".
그 작가의 소설을 읽었어요.
Geu jakgaui soseoreul ilgeosseoyo.
I read that author's novel.
A reading report. The 의 in 작가의 links the author to the novel as its owner, and 읽었어요 is the past tense of reading.
Common Phrases and Collocations
Three phrases show the range. 소설 작가 is a novel writer, with the type of writing in front; the usual single word for a novelist is 소설가. 사진작가 has no space, because it has fused into a single compound for a photographer-artist. 작가가 되다 is the career path itself, "to become a writer".
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 소설 작가 | novel writer (usual word: 소설가) |
| 사진작가 | photographer (artist) |
| 작가가 되다 | to become a writer |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: Using 작가 as the job title for everyone whose work involves writing.
Correct: A journalist is 기자. 저자 identifies the author of a specific book or paper, including a textbook. 작가 usually emphasizes creative work, and also appears in artist titles such as 사진작가.
작가 Compared with 저자, 시인 and 소설가
Three nearby words split the territory with 작가. One is narrower, and two name a particular kind of writer.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 작가 | writer | The broad word for creative writers, and for artists in compounds. |
| 저자 | author (of a book) | 저자 is the author of a specific book or paper. |
| 시인 | poet | A writer of poems; the specific word for that kind of writer. |
| 소설가 | novelist | The usual single word for a novelist. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
작가 is Sino-Korean, written 作家 in hanja: 作 (make) plus 家 (expert, the same 家 that ends 소설가). Put together, the word reads as "an expert at making", which explains why it stretches to artists as well as writers.
Choosing a Novel in a Bookshop
A reader asks a bookseller about an author. The same person can be called 작가 when discussing their work and 저자 when identifying who wrote a particular book.
Reader
이 소설은 누가 썼어요?
I soseoreun nuga sseosseoyo?
Who wrote this novel?
Bookseller
제가 좋아하는 작가가 썼어요.
Jega joahaneun jakgaga sseosseoyo.
An author I like wrote it.
Reader
그 작가의 다른 책도 있어요?
Geu jakgaui dareun chaekdo isseoyo?
Do you also have other books by that author?
Bookseller
네. 이쪽에 있어요.
Ne. Ijjoge isseoyo.
Yes. They are over here.
그 작가 points back to the author just mentioned. 다른 책도 asks for other books “too”, so the reader can browse more work by the same writer.
Where Will You Meet 작가 and 작가님?
Bookshop event notices use 작가와의 만남, literally “a meeting with a writer”, for an author event. It may involve a talk and questions. The phrase alone does not promise a book signing. 작가 소개 is an author introduction or bio, useful when you are finding out who wrote a novel.
In TV discussions, 드라마 작가 means a drama writer or screenwriter. The person creates the script; they are not an actor simply because they work on the same series. 웹툰 작가 is a webtoon creator. These uses explain why translating every instance as “novelist” misses the kind of work involved.
작가님 adds the respectful suffix 님. Readers, interviewers and staff may use it when addressing a writer directly. Attach 님 without a space. 작가 itself remains neutral in a job description; the respectful address does not change the person's occupation.
| Related word | Meaning | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| 작품 | creative work | Can refer to a novel, painting or other created work. |
| 소설 | novel / fiction | Names the writing, while 소설가 names its writer. |
| 독자 | reader | The audience for written work. |
| 출판사 | publishing company | The organization that publishes a book. |
The jobs vocabulary lesson places 작가 beside other occupations, including 기자, a reporter.
Quick Self-Test
- What sound starts the second syllable of 작가?
- Who is a 드라마 작가: the scriptwriter or an actor?
- How do you address a writer respectfully using 작가?
Show answers
- A tense ㄲ sound, although the spelling keeps ㄱ.
- The scriptwriter.
- 작가님, with 님 attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "writer" in Korean?
Say 작가 (jakga), pronounced [jak-kka]. It also means author, and in compounds it can mean an artist.
Does 작가 also mean artist?
Yes, in compounds. 사진작가 is a photographer who works as an artist.
What is the difference between 작가 and 저자?
저자 is the author of a specific book or paper. 작가 is the broader word for a writer.
How do you say "novelist" in Korean?
The usual word is 소설가. 소설 작가, which puts the type of writing before 작가, is also heard.
How do you say "I want to become a writer"?
Use 작가가 되고 싶어요, as in the second example on this page.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Jobs groups 작가 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add 작가 to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Next in this list: the word for student. See the page for student.