noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
Refers to the act of writing an essay or prose, or the resulting piece of writing. Commonly used in educational contexts.
See also: 作文 (さくもん)
夏休みの宿題で作文を書いた。
I wrote a composition for my summer vacation homework.
He is good at writing essays.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
empty formal writing; perfunctory composition
Used critically for writing that follows formal conventions but lacks substance or genuine meaning. Often implies a piece written just to fulfill a requirement.
その報告書は単なる作文に過ぎない。
That report is nothing more than empty formal writing.